Mark Weber
@jerseyjazzman.bsky.social
Education policy analyst, teacher, musician. Lecturer, Rutgers University Grad School of Education. @njpolicy.bsky.social @shankerinst.bsky.social NEPC Fellow. Jazz pianist and composer. Music educator.
Reposted by Mark Weber
New: I look at the surprisingly difficult question of how to rank different states' schools (inspired by @jerseyjazzman.bsky.social).
I also take a look at a new project summarizing education research on various topics.
And more in this Ideas roundup
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/chalkbeat-...
I also take a look at a new project summarizing education research on various topics.
And more in this Ideas roundup
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/chalkbeat-...
State rankings critiqued, more on the Southern surge, and education research for dummies
A Chalkbeat Ideas round up
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:33 PM
New: I look at the surprisingly difficult question of how to rank different states' schools (inspired by @jerseyjazzman.bsky.social).
I also take a look at a new project summarizing education research on various topics.
And more in this Ideas roundup
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/chalkbeat-...
I also take a look at a new project summarizing education research on various topics.
And more in this Ideas roundup
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/chalkbeat-...
Reposted by Mark Weber
This. Plenty of people would prefer that women be our only social safety net.
Look, women no longer do shit for free is actually at the root of a lot of social disruption. The question is whether you think the solution is women going back to being unpaid and unprotected by their own labor.
November 25, 2025 at 9:01 PM
This. Plenty of people would prefer that women be our only social safety net.
Reposted by Mark Weber
🚨 New Report from @alexfromnj.bsky.social 🚨
More than 3.6 million New Jersey residents live within the evacuation zone of a hazardous materials train route, yet the state lacks basic safety rules and transparency measures.
Read more: www.njpp.org/publications...
More than 3.6 million New Jersey residents live within the evacuation zone of a hazardous materials train route, yet the state lacks basic safety rules and transparency measures.
Read more: www.njpp.org/publications...
Millions of New Jerseyans at Risk from Hazardous Materials Transported by Rail - New Jersey Policy Perspective
New Jersey should update its hazmat freight rail policies to protect the millions of residents who live along freight lines.
www.njpp.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:34 PM
🚨 New Report from @alexfromnj.bsky.social 🚨
More than 3.6 million New Jersey residents live within the evacuation zone of a hazardous materials train route, yet the state lacks basic safety rules and transparency measures.
Read more: www.njpp.org/publications...
More than 3.6 million New Jersey residents live within the evacuation zone of a hazardous materials train route, yet the state lacks basic safety rules and transparency measures.
Read more: www.njpp.org/publications...
Reposted by Mark Weber
sharing my most recent data/model driven thoughts on state school finance systems: schoolfinance101.com/2025/11/24/w...
What’s up with New York State School Finance?
Full Report Press Release Slide Deck Executive Summary In this brief, I draw the following conclusions regarding New York’s Foundation Aid formula: Conclusion 1: The current iteration of the Founda…
schoolfinance101.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
sharing my most recent data/model driven thoughts on state school finance systems: schoolfinance101.com/2025/11/24/w...
Reposted by Mark Weber
sharing my most recent data/model driven thoughts on state school finance systems: schoolfinance101.com/2025/11/24/i...
ICYMI: Reforming New Jersey School Funding in 2026
Mark Weber’s Summary Post at NJPP Full Report Summary Report Finds New Jersey Must Recalibrate School Funding Formula to Meet Modern Educational Needs Miami, FL — A comprehensive new study co…
schoolfinance101.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
sharing my most recent data/model driven thoughts on state school finance systems: schoolfinance101.com/2025/11/24/i...
🎯
the Eagles offense has never played a normal game
November 24, 2025 at 3:24 AM
🎯
It's pretty clear that when the next pandemic hits, teachers and students will be forced to report to their classrooms, no matter how virulent or dangerous the disease may be. The media class will demand nothing less, and will make those demands well heard via Zoom...
November 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
It's pretty clear that when the next pandemic hits, teachers and students will be forced to report to their classrooms, no matter how virulent or dangerous the disease may be. The media class will demand nothing less, and will make those demands well heard via Zoom...
Reposted by Mark Weber
ICE agents in Queens, New York break down a bedroom door and point guns at a mother & her four US citizen children
They dragged the mother out by her hair while yelling at the kids to “put your hands up, stupid!”
This is tyranny
These kids are traumatized
It was warrantless and no ID was shown.
They dragged the mother out by her hair while yelling at the kids to “put your hands up, stupid!”
This is tyranny
These kids are traumatized
It was warrantless and no ID was shown.
November 21, 2025 at 10:55 AM
ICE agents in Queens, New York break down a bedroom door and point guns at a mother & her four US citizen children
They dragged the mother out by her hair while yelling at the kids to “put your hands up, stupid!”
This is tyranny
These kids are traumatized
It was warrantless and no ID was shown.
They dragged the mother out by her hair while yelling at the kids to “put your hands up, stupid!”
This is tyranny
These kids are traumatized
It was warrantless and no ID was shown.
NJ-07 is trending hard to Dem. LD-21, right in the heart of the federal district, flipped to Dem this month. Kean's time is up.
NEW @CookPolitical House rating changes:
#NJ07 Kean, Jr. (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA01 Wittman (R) - Likely R to Lean R
#VA02 Kiggans (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA10 Subramanyam (D) - Likely D to Solid D
Full analysis by @ercovey: www.cookpolitical.com/a…
#NJ07 Kean, Jr. (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA01 Wittman (R) - Likely R to Lean R
#VA02 Kiggans (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA10 Subramanyam (D) - Likely D to Solid D
Full analysis by @ercovey: www.cookpolitical.com/a…
Four House Ratings Move Towards Dems in Virginia and New Jersey | Cook Political Report
Following their resounding wins up and down the ballot earlier this month, it’s clear that momentum is on Democrats’ side. President Donald Trump’s approval rating — and voters’ opinions of his...
www.cookpolitical.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:32 AM
NJ-07 is trending hard to Dem. LD-21, right in the heart of the federal district, flipped to Dem this month. Kean's time is up.
Reposted by Mark Weber
NEW @CookPolitical House rating changes:
#NJ07 Kean, Jr. (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA01 Wittman (R) - Likely R to Lean R
#VA02 Kiggans (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA10 Subramanyam (D) - Likely D to Solid D
Full analysis by @ercovey: www.cookpolitical.com/a…
#NJ07 Kean, Jr. (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA01 Wittman (R) - Likely R to Lean R
#VA02 Kiggans (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA10 Subramanyam (D) - Likely D to Solid D
Full analysis by @ercovey: www.cookpolitical.com/a…
Four House Ratings Move Towards Dems in Virginia and New Jersey | Cook Political Report
Following their resounding wins up and down the ballot earlier this month, it’s clear that momentum is on Democrats’ side. President Donald Trump’s approval rating — and voters’ opinions of his...
www.cookpolitical.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 AM
NEW @CookPolitical House rating changes:
#NJ07 Kean, Jr. (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA01 Wittman (R) - Likely R to Lean R
#VA02 Kiggans (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA10 Subramanyam (D) - Likely D to Solid D
Full analysis by @ercovey: www.cookpolitical.com/a…
#NJ07 Kean, Jr. (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA01 Wittman (R) - Likely R to Lean R
#VA02 Kiggans (R) - Lean R to Toss Up
#VA10 Subramanyam (D) - Likely D to Solid D
Full analysis by @ercovey: www.cookpolitical.com/a…
Reposted by Mark Weber
The President’s plan to dismantle the Dept of Ed is neither streamlining nor reform, it’s an abdication & abandonment of America’s future. Rather than show leadership in helping all students seize their potential, it walks away from that responsibility. www.aft.org/press-releas...
November 19, 2025 at 12:27 AM
The President’s plan to dismantle the Dept of Ed is neither streamlining nor reform, it’s an abdication & abandonment of America’s future. Rather than show leadership in helping all students seize their potential, it walks away from that responsibility. www.aft.org/press-releas...
Reposted by Mark Weber
Elon Musk is set to make more than every U.S. elementary teacher combined www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
a cartoon dog is sitting at a table in front of a fire with the words it 's fine everything is fine
ALT: a cartoon dog is sitting at a table in front of a fire with the words it 's fine everything is fine
media.tenor.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Elon Musk is set to make more than every U.S. elementary teacher combined www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
Just in case you are in NJ and missed it: Bill Spadea, following his dismal failure of a campaign, is back on the air, pushing vaccine denial and other right-wing inanity, sponsored by a variety of NJ businesses. Apparently, they pay no price for their choice to spread this sewage. OK with that?
November 17, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Just in case you are in NJ and missed it: Bill Spadea, following his dismal failure of a campaign, is back on the air, pushing vaccine denial and other right-wing inanity, sponsored by a variety of NJ businesses. Apparently, they pay no price for their choice to spread this sewage. OK with that?
lol "...signed by more than 50 scholars and policy experts..." Hackfest 2025
This should alarm everyone.
On Thursday, Florida, by unanimous vote, became the first state in the country to adopt “The Phoenix Declaration: An American Vision for Education.”
It was written by the Heritage Foundation, the same group behind Project 2025.
THIS IS INDOCTRINATION
On Thursday, Florida, by unanimous vote, became the first state in the country to adopt “The Phoenix Declaration: An American Vision for Education.”
It was written by the Heritage Foundation, the same group behind Project 2025.
THIS IS INDOCTRINATION
November 17, 2025 at 12:01 PM
lol "...signed by more than 50 scholars and policy experts..." Hackfest 2025
Reposted by Mark Weber
Alan Dershowitz is one of those claiming Epstein was not a pedophile because he pleaded guilty to one count of having sex for money with a 17-year-and-10-month-old person. "That’s not a pedophile." See this important response from Julia Brown, the brave reporter who broke the news on this
November 15, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Alan Dershowitz is one of those claiming Epstein was not a pedophile because he pleaded guilty to one count of having sex for money with a 17-year-and-10-month-old person. "That’s not a pedophile." See this important response from Julia Brown, the brave reporter who broke the news on this
Reposted by Mark Weber
Colorado’s rural schools serve more than 130,000 students, and their superintendents want more pay for their teachers
Colorado’s rural schools serve more than 130,000 students, and their superintendents want more pay for their teachers
Rural school leaders are most concerned about recruiting and retaining teachers.
buff.ly
November 12, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Colorado’s rural schools serve more than 130,000 students, and their superintendents want more pay for their teachers
Reposted by Mark Weber
Pennsylvania Budget Cuts Cyber Charter Funding, Adds Accountability www.forbes.com/sites/peterg...
Pennsylvania Budget Cuts Cyber Charter Funding, Adds Accountability
After years of attempts, Pennsylvania’s legislature has finally made some changes to the rules governing cyber charter schools.
www.forbes.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Pennsylvania Budget Cuts Cyber Charter Funding, Adds Accountability www.forbes.com/sites/peterg...
Reposted by Mark Weber
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Reposted by Mark Weber
My daughter is 15, a child with a baby face whom I won’t even put in an Uber by herself. Just utterly disgusting from the same people who have spent years demonizing trans people as predators for daring even to exist. What are we even doing right now?
November 13, 2025 at 8:47 PM
My daughter is 15, a child with a baby face whom I won’t even put in an Uber by herself. Just utterly disgusting from the same people who have spent years demonizing trans people as predators for daring even to exist. What are we even doing right now?
Reposted by Mark Weber
Honestly, one of the things that's most shocked me about the last 10 years is the revelation of how many highly-educated elite white men who self-identify as moderates, liberals, and/or Democrats, still seem to be 100% on board with race science and masculine superiority.
How dare you imply that our friendship was based on leering at teenage girls, it was based on sorting races into C, B, A and S tiers
November 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Honestly, one of the things that's most shocked me about the last 10 years is the revelation of how many highly-educated elite white men who self-identify as moderates, liberals, and/or Democrats, still seem to be 100% on board with race science and masculine superiority.
"We will eat up tons of electricity, steal water, and make the planet burn even hotter if it means making life for teachers just that much more miserable!"
What better demonstration of the enshittification of our society than placing the random word vomit of a hallucination scheme over the expertise of qualified teachers.
Honestly, can we have even the meagerest critical thought from our government?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Honestly, can we have even the meagerest critical thought from our government?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
All schools in England to be given AI-generated pupil attendance targets
Unions decry move, saying it will put more pressure on headteachers without tackling absence from classrooms
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
"We will eat up tons of electricity, steal water, and make the planet burn even hotter if it means making life for teachers just that much more miserable!"
Reposted by Mark Weber
What better demonstration of the enshittification of our society than placing the random word vomit of a hallucination scheme over the expertise of qualified teachers.
Honestly, can we have even the meagerest critical thought from our government?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Honestly, can we have even the meagerest critical thought from our government?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
All schools in England to be given AI-generated pupil attendance targets
Unions decry move, saying it will put more pressure on headteachers without tackling absence from classrooms
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:42 AM
What better demonstration of the enshittification of our society than placing the random word vomit of a hallucination scheme over the expertise of qualified teachers.
Honestly, can we have even the meagerest critical thought from our government?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Honestly, can we have even the meagerest critical thought from our government?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
It's one thing for a Dem senator to say they're against the deal. It's another to call out, by name, the cavers. But are you willing to get your ass to PA and stump for Fetterman's challenger in the next election? Or Kaine's in VA?
November 10, 2025 at 11:56 AM
It's one thing for a Dem senator to say they're against the deal. It's another to call out, by name, the cavers. But are you willing to get your ass to PA and stump for Fetterman's challenger in the next election? Or Kaine's in VA?
Reposted by Mark Weber
One of the talking points I keep seeing from Democrats is that part of the deal is that it will "ensure federal workers receive back pay" but that's the existing law!
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 AM
One of the talking points I keep seeing from Democrats is that part of the deal is that it will "ensure federal workers receive back pay" but that's the existing law!
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
Reposted by Mark Weber
Not that he didn’t already know, but now Trump knows for sure he can roll the Dems every time and there’s no need to negotiate for anything
November 10, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Not that he didn’t already know, but now Trump knows for sure he can roll the Dems every time and there’s no need to negotiate for anything