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The mission of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, the unifying professional association of school leaders, is to ensure...Read More
September 4, 2015


This special announcement will provide you with up-to-date information on pertinent educational issues that are part of the State Board's agenda.

Eyes on the NJ State Board of Education
Meeting Date: September 2, 2015


President's Report
Junior Achievement (JA) of New Jersey presented a comprehensive overview of their programs in the Garden State. JA is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA offers in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12.

Commissioner's Report
Newark Public Schools 
Chris Cerf, State District Superintendent of the State-Operated School District of the City of Newark, provided the State Board with a monthly update regarding district operations.

Standards Review Process
NJDOE Assistant Commissioner Kimberly Harrington informed the State Board that the Committee and three subcommittees met for the first time on September 1st. As a strategy to collect perspectives that will help to inform the review process, Regional Listening Tours will be held from September 17th-28th. Speakers must preregister. A Standards Review survey will accept feedback until October 9th.

Results from 2014-15 Administrations of SAT, ACT and Advanced Placement Assessments
NJDOE Assistant Commissioner Bari Erlichson shared that New Jersey's participation in College Readiness assessments is up significantly. SAT saw an increase of 2.7% with Hispanic students up 9% and African American student participation up 4.9%. Approximately 80% of 2015 graduating seniors took the SAT; about 26% took the ACT. Performance on the SAT is steady. 2015 mean scores in Reading and Math were down a point or so, not unexpected given the rising participation rate. Achievement gaps are not narrowing on the SAT. Participation in Advanced Placement assessments showed a remarkable 7.5% increase in the count of unique test takers; a 10% increase in the number of tests taken.

Enlargement of Purpose - Camden County Educational Services Commission (CCESC)
The State Board discussed CCESC's request to provide support services beyond the area identified in its original petition.

Proposal Level:

Managing for Equality and Equity in Education   
The State Board advanced changes to N.J.A.C. 6A:7 that will sunset this month.   

Adoption Level:
Anticipated Publication Date in the NJ Register is October
Programs to Support Student Development 
The State Board adopted amendments to Chapter 16 pertaining to health services pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:40-1, 4, 12, 23 through 31, 34, 41, and 44 and N.J.S.A. 18A:40A-12.
Fiscal Accountability, Efficiency and Budgeting Procedures
The State Board adopted amendments to the rules at N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-22.4, pertaining to the financial operations of charter schools, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36A-12.

State Board of Examiners  
The State Board of Education approved a resolution confirming the reappointments of three members and the appointments of two new members to the State Board of Examiners. The reappointments are: Dr. Laura Morana, Interim Executive County Superintendent for Mercer and Middlesex Counties; Mr. Derek Jess, School Business Administrator, Perth Amboy School District; Dr. Patricia McGeehan, Superintendent, Type I district, Bayonne School District; and Dr. Mary Jane McNally, Library Media Specialist, Bernards Township School District. The new appointments are: Naomi Johnson-Lafleur, Teacher, Trenton School District; and Dayna Desiderio Orlak, Teacher, Waldwick School District.

 
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at agallagher@njasa.net or 609-599-2900, ext. 126.  
 
Sincerely,

ahg signature
Anne H. Gallagher
NJASA Director of Communications