Thousands of them were laid off when he cut about $1 billion last year from the state's subsidy for local schools. At the time, he lambasted unions, saying it was their fault for not taking contract concessions.
Christie also has imposed a cap on increases in property taxes, which fund school budgets, and forced public employees to make bigger contributions to their retirement and health insurance plans.
New Jersey, a well-educated, high-income state, consistently ranks near the top in the nation on scores on standardized tests. But those numbers - pushed hard by the union - come with complicated issues.
For one, it costs the state's taxpayers. The average homeowner's property tax bill is more than $7,500 - the highest in the nation. And there remains a big performance gap between schools in the suburbs and those in the cities. Because of court rulings, those urban districts get most of the state's education subsidies and rank near the top in cost per student.
Christie has not made as much of a mark so far in education policy. His education-overhaul plans are likely to be a top priority after Tuesday's state legislative elections. Democrats control both chambers of the state Legislature and are expected to continue to do so after new members are sworn in in January.
Christie supports measures to undo some job protections for teachers and to use some public money to pay for student scholarships to private schools, among other changes.
The teachers' plans acknowledge some of the same issues but offer alternative solutions.
Teachers receive tenure after three years. Christie wants to make it easier to revoke tenure for educators who receive low evaluations.
