Feedback on New Jersey’s ESSA State Plan

Feedback on New Jersey’s ESSA State Plan

New Jersey Department of Education

February 2017

Dear Parents and Guardians,

New Jersey is in the process of creating its state plan that details how it will implement the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Each state must develop a plan that adheres to the requirements of the federal ESSA statute and must submit a plan to the U.S. Department of Education for approval. I invite you to review and provide feedback on the proposed New Jersey ESSA State Plan before it is submitted to the U.S. Department of Education.

ESSA replaces the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), enacted in 2002, and it reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. Under ESSA, some federal requirements remain in place. For instance, all states must set challenging academic standards and they must annually assess students’ progress towards those statewide standards in math, English language arts, and science.

However, ESSA provides flexibility in other areas. The plan that New Jersey will submit to the U.S. Department of Education will describe how the state will improve efforts in areas such as accountability (e.g., factors stakeholders believe should be included in the School Performance Reports); supports for educators; supports for struggling schools; and how federal funds can most effectively help schools achieve academic goals.

Over the last six months, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has heard from thousands of parents, educators, and community members across our state. Today I am inviting all of the parents of the Mine Hill School District to learn more about ESSA and provide feedback directly to the NJDOE on the proposed plan. Your feedback will help provide the NJDOE with ideas and suggestions to incorporate in the final New Jersey ESSA State Plan. Public comment is being taken on the proposed state plan until March 20, and the NJDOE expects to submit the plan to the U.S. Department of Education by April 3, 2017.

Below are links about New Jersey’s proposed ESSA State Plan that you can find on NJDOE’s main ESSA webpage:

·       An overview of the plan, including videos, a PowerPoint presentation, and the entire state plan.

·       Register for live webinars to learn about the New Jersey ESSA State Plan.

You can email the NJDOE with questions or comments at essa@doe.state.nj.us.

Thank you for your interest in helping New Jersey develop its ESSA State Plan.