Tom Moran of the Newark Star Ledger with some good points:

So where does the truth lie? Are Newark schools stuck in neutral, as Russakoff says? And has her book slimed the reform movement, as Cerf says?

If you ask me, they're both missing the mark.

It seems beyond dispute that Newark kids are much better off today, on the whole, mainly due to the explosive growth of the best charter school chains, such as Team Academy and North Star Academy.

But let's face it: Reformers blew the politics of this, provoking a backlash that puts this progress at risk, especially when the schools are returned to local control, as the governor has promised.

Reformers ought to read this fine book and take notes so they can correct course. It points out where the land mines are buried.

Newark students are better off, despite the political noise

By Tom Moran | Star-Ledger Editorial Board 
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on September 06, 2015 at 7:45 AM, updated September 06, 2015 at 1:56 PM

http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/09/newark_moran.html