SCHUNDLER: CHRISTIE'S EGO GOT IN THE WAY OF SCHOOL FUNDING

It was Gov. Chris Christie’s ego that kept New Jersey from getting “Race to the Top” dollars, according to Former Education Commissioner Bret Schundler. He testified during a Senate hearing on Thursday and said Christie refused to agreement that would have included merit pay, because he didn’t want to seem like he caved into the teachers union. Christie had the application redone, without union approval, and because of a error ended up just short of $400 million. Schundler said if the initial agreement would have been used, the state would have finished fourth, which would have been good to win the funding.