Fueled by immigration and globalization, the United States has evolved into a nation of linguistically diverse residents; however, English remains the dominant language in schools. A recent language policy initiative emergent in states across the nation, the Seal of Biliteracy challenges English monolingualism by promoting the development of…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the 2006 New Jersey Department of Education's initiative to improve mentoring supports for first-year new teachers throughout the state. As part of this initiative, every school district in the state was required to develop a comprehensive mentoring plan to support new teachers. Districts…

Local education agencies (LEAs) are working to manage and maintain commitment and enthusiasm to numerous initiatives mandated by the state to improve student success. The rapid pace of scaling up many initiatives at once often leads to relying on local administrators and educators to interpret and unpack the complexity of implementing these…

Increased attention to proposed federal early childhood education (ECE) legislation has sparked a debate on what the future holds for state-funded ECE systems. This brief explores how the goal of universal preschool is being shaped by the federal agenda and examines state programs in various stages of development. President Obama's Preschool for…

This Executive Position Paper is a one-to-one laptop implementation plan for Pittsgrove Township Schools that can be used as a template for other districts with similar interests. Each of the three chapters fulfills a major purpose. In Chapter One the paper is designed to substantiate the need for the Pittsgrove Township School District to…

This document has been developed by the New Jersey Department of Education with the assistance of the TA Customizer Project funded by the U.S. Department of Education Charter Schools Program (CSP) and conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE). Its focus is on providing information and technical…

With the state's latest preschool expansion initiative, New Jersey public schools have an opportunity to help reach thousands of additional young children who will ultimately reap the educational rewards of a high-quality preschool program. In those districts that do not already provide preschool, administrators will themselves become students as…

With the expansion in publicly funded prekindergarten programs across the country, a number of policy initiatives are aiming to bring these various providers of preschool services together to create coordinated systems of early care and education. This article reports the findings of a focus group study with stakeholders at all levels of the…

This article discusses the recent progress made by three states--Indiana, Kentucky, and New Jersey--toward statewide goals to improve transfer and articulation. Legislation and/or policies that prompted the initiative in each state are presented, along with any additional policies and organizational structures that were implemented to promote…

This policy brief shows that, while New Jersey has made a substantial investment in state-supported preschool programs, the link between preschool and elementary education needs to be strengthened. By adopting a broader view of early learning that aligns quality preschool with the early elementary years, policy leaders will reap a better return on…

This booklet summarizes and discusses the major provisions of New Jersey's Public School Education Act of 1975 and describes the educational planning process outlined in the act. The appendix contains the complete text of the act, as well as the section of the New Jersey Administrative Code that regulates implementation of the act's requirements.…

New Jersey is unique as a State in that it has developed a set of objective criteria for defining its urban districts. The State Education Department has used these criteria to focus on the educational needs of urban districts. Organizational planning of educational aid to urban districts is taking place through three new initiatives: the…

This document presents policy recommendations for higher education planning in New Jersey, in light of the New Jersey Higher Education Restructuring Act of 1994. It articulates a vision and characteristics of excellence to inspire future action, coupled with broad policy recommendations to guide institutions and state policymakers in their…

DATA WERE ASSEMBLED CONCERNING THE MANY FACTORS AFFECTING SCHOOL ENROLLMENT IN THE CITY OF ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY. THE DATA WERE ANALYZED AND ESTIMATES WERE MADE OF FUTURE ENROLLMENT TRENDS. THESE DATA AND ANALYSES WERE RELATED TO THE DISPOSITION OF OBSOLETE SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND THE NEED FOR NEW SCHOOL FACILITIES. DETAILED CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO…

Gaps in early learning are starkly apparent among differing children even before they enter kindergarten. So, a rising number of states are trying to narrow initial achievement disparities by expanding access to quality preschool. At the same time, recent findings show that preschool is not a lasting inoculation: its benefits fade if children move…