The New Jersey State Board of Education convened for its monthly meeting on May 7, 2025, at the Department of Education, 100 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, NJ. This meeting included a series of recognitions, policy updates, and regulatory actions relevant to education stakeholders statewide.
Celebrating Educators and Advocacy
In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week, the State Board recognized Emily Litz, a fifth-grade teacher at Malcolm E. Nettingham Middle School in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District. Litz is a recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award, which honors outstanding educators across the country for their significant contributions to student learning.
The Board also adopted a resolution recognizing May 2025 as National Speech-Language-Hearing Month This proclamation aims to raise public awareness of communication disorders and the importance of timely screenings and evaluations for children and families.
NJQSAC Evaluations and Certification
Pursuant to the provisions of the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC),Executive County Superintendents have conducted thirty-nine NJQSAC reviews since the December 2024 State Board meeting. Of these, two districts were recommended for certification, having achieved scores of 80 percent or higher across all five NJQSAC performance areas. These districts will be certified for a period of three years.
The remaining 37 districts scored below 80 percent in one or more areas. These districts are either initiating or continuing their District Improvement Plans (DIPs) to address deficiencies. Executive County Superintendents will conduct interim progress reviews within six months of DIP approval.
Concerns were raised by State Board members regarding the scores of the 37 districts that were not recommended for certification, particularly in the area Instruction and Performance program areas, sparking a discussion with the members from the Department of Education. The Department understood and reiterated that is why there are proposed changes and for future NJQSAC reviews that will adjust how NJQSAC scores are weighted to better reflect current educational priorities.
Proposed Amendments to Educator Preparation and Certification
The Board reviewed proposed amendments at N.J.A.C. 6A:9, Professional Standards; N.J.A.C. 6A:9A, New Jersey Educator Preparation Programs; and N.J.A.C. 9A:9B, State Board of Examiners and Certification aligning certification regulations with newly enacted state laws, including:
- Elimination of the basic skills test and Commissioner-approved performance-based assessments for certification.
- Establishment of a paraprofessional educator preparation pathway, expediting licensure for instructional aides.
- Introduction of a computer science endorsement for educators teaching grades 9–12.
- New requirements for special education coursework, culturally responsive teaching training, and autism-specific instructional strategies in teacher preparation programs.
- Flexibility for educator preparation programs to accept county college credits toward certification requirements.
These amendments aim to modernize educator preparation while maintaining high standards for teacher effectiveness and inclusivity.
Updates to Student Transportation Regulations
The Board approved proposed amendments to N.J.A.C. 6A:27, Student Transportation. Some of the changes include:
- Clarifying the calculation of payments for nonpublic school aid-in-lieu of transportation.
- Allowing designated school staff (non-bus drivers) to transport students in small-capacity vehicles.
- Introducing a new subchapter to codify the nonpublic consortium transportation program, authorized by P.L. 2023, c. 326. This initiative enables a consortium of nonpublic schools to coordinate student transportation for three years.
Religious Holiday Calendar Approved
The State Board adopted a resolution pertaining to the annual calendar of religious holidays for the 2025-2026 school year as established at N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.3(j), pursuant to N.J.S.A.18A:36-14 to 16.
Next Meeting
The State Board of Education will meet again on June 4th. The public is invited to participate by providing comments on proposed rules either at a public testimony session or by submitting written comments on proposed rules. Further information on the NJ State Board of Education may be found here.