New Jersey State Plan

1 Every Student Succeeds Act New Jersey State plan August 2017. New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Programs Included in the Consolidated State plan Instructions: Indicate below by checking the appropriate box(es) which programs the SEA included in its consolidated State plan . If an SEA elected not to include one or more of the programs below in its consolidated State plan , but is eligible and still wishes to receive funds under that program or programs, it must submit individual program plans that meet all statutory requirements with its consolidated State plan in a single submission. Check this box if the SEA has included all of the following programs in its consolidated State plan . or If all programs are not included, check each program listed below for which the SEA is submitting an individual program State plan : Title I, Part A: Improving Basic Programs Operated by State and Local Educational Agencies Title I, Part C: Education of Migratory Children Title I, Part D: Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction Title III, Part A: Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students Title IV, Part A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants Title IV, Part B: 21st Century Community Learning Centers Title V, Part B, Subpart 2.

2 Rural and Low-Income School Program Title VII, Subpart B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento Act): Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program 4. New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Additional Assurances Check this box if the State has developed an alternative template, consistent with the March 13 letter from Secretary DeVos to chief State school officers. Check this box if the SEA has included a Cover Sheet with its Consolidated State plan . Check this box if the SEA has included a table of contents or guide that indicates where the SEA. addressed each requirement within the Department of Education's Revised State Template for the Consolidated plan , issued March 2017. Check this box if the SEA has worked through the Council of Chief State School Officers in developing its own template.

3 Check this box if the SEA has included the required information regarding equitable access to, and participation in, the programs included in its consolidated State plan as required by section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act. See Appendix D. 5. New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Table of Contents Cover Page ..2. Programs Included in the Consolidated State plan ..4. Additional Assurances ..5. Table of Contents ..6. From the Commissioner ..7. Introduction ..9. Section 1: Long-term Goals ..13. Section 2: Consultation and Performance Management ..24. Consultation .. 24. System of Performance Management .. 33. Section 3: Academic Assessments ..45. Section 4: Accountability, Support, and Improvement for Schools ..49. Accountability Systems.

4 50. Identification of Schools .. 77. State Support and Improvement for Low-performing 82. Section 5: Supporting Excellent Educators ..89. Educator Development, Retention and Advancement .. 89. Support for Educators .. 91. Educator Equity .. 98. Section 6: Supporting All Students ..115. Well-Rounded and Supportive Education for Students .. 115. Program-Specific Requirements .. 132. Section 7: General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)..1655. Appendices: A. Interim Goals B. Stakeholder Feedback Index C. Educator Equity Data D. PARCC Results E. AchieveNJ Standard Setting Report F. English Learner Entry and Exit Criteria G. McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youths (EHCY) Program Memo H. Crosswalk of New Jersey State plan to New Department of Education Template 6.

5 New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. From the Commissioner Dear students, parents, educators, policy makers and broader school community members, With this letter, I thank those of you from Cape May to Sussex County and the hundreds of communities in between, for participating in the development of New Jersey 's State plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). As I stated during the release of the draft State plan , New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) staff and I deeply appreciate and hope to continue the meaningful conversations we have had with you and your fellow stakeholders about what type of schools each and every one of our students deserves. We have been amazed by how many of you have been willing to share your time, expertise, passion and ideas to ensure your voices are being heard and reflected in this State plan .

6 Please remember the policies included in our State plan are just pieces, albeit important pieces, of our broader education work in New Jersey . Every day, educators, families and community members provide our students with tremendous educational opportunities that challenge and support them in ways that extend beyond mere data points. We have heard from you and agree that a plan setting forth how we in New Jersey are complying with federal law falls short of capturing the breadth and depth of these rich experiences nor reflects a child's entire school experience. The plan does, however, set forth the intention and direction of how the NJDOE will continually improve its systems of support so schools that need the most help will receive coordinated and efficient assistance.

7 To that end, we deeply appreciate, and count on, your continued engagement as we embark on the most challenging work of ensuring the ideas put forth in the State plan are implemented in a way that leads to providing all of our students the high- quality schools we envision for them. Moving forward, I implore you to continue to keep the themes below in mind. Conversations across the State revealed broad spectrums of opinions and preferences, but we encountered stakeholder support for the following themes: Students and their well-being are at the center of all of NJDOE's work. The policies already in place in New Jersey and those set forth in this State plan recognize NJDOE's role is to set high standards for all of our students, identify gaps and, with data, policies and flexible federal funding mechanisms, empower school districts and school communities to identify the unique needs of their students and help them achieve and excel beyond the high standards.

8 NJDOE recognizes that school district and school communities are best positioned to identify the unique needs of students. When stakeholders were asked what aspects of schools are most important, the answers were varied, but important themes emerged. For instance, stakeholders throughout the State indicated they want all students to have educational experiences that challenge them to reach their greatest potential. Stakeholders said they also expect schools to provide welcoming, safe, healthy and captivating learning experiences that support the whole child's 7. New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. development. Recognizing the tremendous diversity of student populations and priorities in the State 's 2,500 schools, NJDOE set forth policies in the State plan that provide schools and districts the flexibility to prioritize what their unique student populations need for well-rounded educational experiences.

9 There must be a relentless focus on ensuring all students, particularly those in historically disadvantaged subgroups, have equal access to high-quality educators and educational experiences. Despite the many changes enacted in ESSA, the law still requires all State agencies, school districts and schools to identify gaps or places where historically disadvantaged students are not making the progress they need to graduate high school ready for college and careers and to use ESSA funds for the explicit purpose of closing the identified gaps. This aligns perfectly with New Jersey 's collective expectation that all students, regardless of race, economic status, zip code, language or disability, have access to challenging educational opportunities that encourage students to reach their greatest potential.

10 Through meaningful and sometimes difficult conversations, you challenged and encouraged us to think differently about some of our proposals and about how we implement and communicate these ideas. For instance, in many conversations, we heard that we must place a greater weight on student growth than was originally proposed. Looking at students' progress from year to year, regardless of their starting point, provides one of the clearest windows into how educators and school systems are helping students achieve great heights. Placing a greater emphasis on growth implies there is no ceiling or end point for our students but rather exponential opportunities to shine. So as we look at how all of our schools are performing across the State , it makes sense to place a heavier emphasis on growth rather than other academic measures such as proficiency.