The National Science Foundation's Statewide Systemic Initiative (SSI) program attempted to address concerns about student performance in science, mathematics, and technology education. The SSIs were supposed to increase and improve student learning in these areas by having challenging academic standards, a hands-on approach to instruction, the use…

The numbers of students receiving a high school diploma in New Jersey and differences in graduation rates for males and females and for minority and non-minority students are examined. Conclusions are based on graduation totals reported by the school districts. In the country as a whole, 71% of all students receive a high school diploma by age 18…

This study examined whether New Jersey students of elementary teachers trained in the use of standards-aligned curriculum materials and the nature of standards themselves would submit standards-meeting work after they were taught the standards-aligned activities. Two urban districts received funding to train teachers to meet the new science…

Paterson Teachers for Tomorrow (PT4T) is a collaborative project between the Paterson, NJ Public Schools and the College of Education at William Paterson University of New Jersey (WPUNJ), created to attract talented high school students from Paterson to careers in teaching, prepare them to be effective teaching professionals, and return them to…

One of the greatest challenges for the Unites States as a nation, and for Paterson, NJ in particular, is how to attract and retain academically and pedagogically talented teachers for urban schools--teachers who are committed to remain in those schools to do the difficult, long-term work of reform and renewal. This work is critical if urban…

The impact of testing and promotion standards on students in urban schools was discussed by urban school superintendents from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Pointing to research that suggests that standards alone are not enough to boost achievement, many educators recommend coupling more rigorous standards with appropriate remedial programs, staff…

This analysis is the first in a series of seven reports on the ways that the urban fiscal crisis has affected children. It discusses the issue in general, and provides an overview of the other reports. Over the past 100 years, all levels of government have developed public services responsible for the health, education, protection and physical and…

This document consists of the six issues of the "Abbott Bulletin" published during 1998. The "Abbott Bulletin" is a one-page per issue newsletter that reports on developments in response to a set of rulings by the New Jersey Supreme Court in the Abbott v. Burke case. In its fifth ruling in the Abbott case in May 1998, the Court…

The names of the county, school, principal, district, and superintendent; address; phone number; grades served; and number of students are provided for each of the 50 award recipients of the City Schools of Excellence Grant Program in New Jersey. These New Jersey schools are engaging in a thorough and intensive program of schoolwide improvement.…

Many school systems have so much difficulty when it comes to educating students between the ages of 12 and 15. There seems to be perennial dissatisfaction with how public schools educate these "young adolescents." The grade configurations of schools varied, but the dominant pattern was eight years of primary school followed by four years…

Project ACCENT (Ascertaining Critical Career Education Needs in Trenton) had three objectives: (1) to determine career awareness needs of students in grades 5-8 in the non-public, inner-city, Trenton (New Jersey) schools; (2) to involve students, parents, and faculties in the evaluation of the students' career awareness; and (3) to evaluate…

Despite the New Jersey Public School Education Act of 1975, Jersey City remains one of the poorest municipalities in New Jersey in terms of per capita property wealth, and this is having a negative effect on its educational system. Even though the new law increased State aid to public education, conditions in Jersey City have worsened. Educational…

Presents the statement of the state Commissioner of Education before the New Jersey Senate Education Committee in defense of increased funding to urban school districts provided by the Quality Education Act. Argues that state legislators have a moral obligation and legal duty to see poor school districts properly funded. (SLD)

This booklet describes a number of activities initiated in the State of New Jersey to improve academic standards and to help teachers prepare their students for taking New Jersey's High School Proficiency Test (HSPT). The HSPT, administered to all public school ninth graders, is more demanding than the previously used Minimum Basic Skills Test.…

Urban school superintendents from Pennsylvania and New Jersey met to consider issues related to the improvement of urban secondary schools. Although the public is pessimistic about all urban public schools, it regards secondary schools with particular pessimism. There are 70 urban high schools in New Jersey and 81 in Pennsylvania. Superintendents…