At this month’s State Board of Education meeting, Commissioner Kevin Dehmer and NJDOE leadership presented a comprehensive review of the Spring 2025 statewide assessment results, adopted educator certification rules to align with newly signed state law, and proposed revisions to New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Computer Science, Innovation & Society, World Languages and Visual and Performing Arts. There was no public testimony this month, as no topics were scheduled.
Spring 2025 Assessment Results
The Spring 2025 Assessment results generally showed continued growth across most content areas. Commissioner Dehmer opened with an overview of statewide student performance, emphasizing that assessments provide one valuable data point within a larger system of continuous improvement. This year’s results reflect notable upward trends, with several areas surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
NJSLA – English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science
Assistant Commissioner Dr. Jordan Schiff and Office of Assessments Director John Boczany presented the longitudinal data.
Overall Trends, since 2016, show:
- 2025 continues a steady upward trajectory in student performance seen since 2022.
- ELA: Growth in nearly all tested grades.
- Math: Gains across almost all grade levels and end-of-course tests. Geometry and Algebra II showed particularly strong improvement compared to 2024.
- Science (Grades 5, 8, 11): Grades 5 and 11 now exceed pre-pandemic proficiency; Grade 8 is within one percentage point.
Performance by Student Groups:
Four student groups – Black or African American, Hispanic, White, and Asian students – were highlighted due to their size in statewide enrollment.
Statewide proficiency increased by 0.9% overall:
- Black/African American students: Largest growth, up 1.67%
- Hispanic students: +0.9%
- White students: +1.4%
- Asian students: –0.3%
Full student-group data are available on the NJDOE website.
NJ Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA)
The NJGPA, administered to Grade 11 students only, measures graduation readiness in ELA (aligned to Grade 10 standards) and Mathematics (Algebra I & Geometry).
The Department reiterated the three “pathways” to graduation, including passing the NJGPA.
- Pathway 1: NJGPA (passing score = 725 in both ELA & Math)
- Pathway 2: Menu of approved alternate assessments
- PSAT, SAT, ACT, Accuplacer, and others
- Pathway 3: Portfolio Appeals / Streamlined appeals for students scoring 35+ on the ASVAB.
2025 NJGPA Results:
- ELA: 81.3% demonstrated readiness (down 1.2% from 2024)
- Math: 58.5% demonstrated readiness (up 2.9% from 2024)
While all student groups saw slight decreases in ELA readiness, every group showed improvement in Math.
ACCESS for ELLs
ACCESS serves as New Jersey’s English language proficiency assessment for multilingual learners (grades K-12). ACCESS for ELLs results indicated:
- Participation exceeded 99% across all grades.
- Most kindergarteners scored at Level 1, as expected for new entrants.
- Grades 4–5 showed increases in Levels 5 and 6, reflecting typical progress toward exit from program services.
- Students must achieve a 4.5 composite score as part of the exit process.
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)
DLM is the alternate assessment for students with the most significant intellectual disabilities (no more than 1% of the student population under ESSA). Major key takeaways presented by the Department included that the DLM has been computer-adaptive for many years, the DLM measures “Essential Elements” aligned to grade-level content, the results across ELA, Math, and Science remain consistent year to year and, student needs vary widely, from near-independent test-takers to those requiring extensive support.
The Department reviewed the substantial statewide efforts since the pandemic designed to improve literacy, mathematics understanding, and overall student outcomes.
Updated Standards (Adopted 2023):
- ELA: Integration of evidence-based literacy instruction
- phonological/phonemic awareness
- phonics, decoding, encoding, orthography
- Math: Early-grade emphasis on data literacy; stronger alignment to quantitative reasoning and problem-solving
State Board of Education President Kathy Goldenberg thanked the Department for the very in-depth conversation and answering so many of their questions, stating that it is very heartening to see all of the efforts that the NJDOE is making, and noting Commissioner Dehmer has been at every single meeting and has been meeting with all the stakeholders. But, President Goldenberg cautioned there is a lot of room for growth and improvement and offered the State Board’s support on anything they can do on their end.
Amendments were presented at adoption level, to NJAC 6A:9 professional standards, 6A:9A New Jersey Educator Preparation programs, and 6A:9B State Board of Examiners and Certification. The amendments and new rules adopted today align the chapter with the existing statues. The State Board unanimously adopted amendments aligning certification regulations to recently enacted laws. Preparation programs must now align to the NJSLS, teach foundational literacy in all content areas, and strengthen reading instruction in K–3 and K–6 programs. New Literacy Legislation (P.L. 2025, c.52) requires twice-yearly literacy screeners for grades K–3, parent reporting, supports aligned to NJTSS and PD for PreK–6 educators on foundational literacy.
Key Changes under newly adopted amendments:
- Eliminates the basic skills test
- Creates a pathway for paraprofessionals to earn a CEAS
- Establishes a Computer Science endorsement (grades 9–12)
- Eliminates edTPA, allowing programs to design their own assessments
- Requires coursework in:
- Special education
- Culturally responsive teaching
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Allows unlimited community college credits toward certification
Public comments received by the Department indicated strong support for these changes.
Military Science Endorsement Proposal
A separate rule proposal – prompted by a petition from the Air Force JROTC – that would modernize eligibility to align with updated federal rules was discussed. To receive a military science endorsement under existing regulations, candidates must demonstrate 20 years of military experience and hold a valid certification authorizing employment as a military science instructor from the branch of service in which the candidate served. The 20 year provision was required for alignment to a federal limitation that Junior ROTC instructors must be retired. Federal laws have recently been expanded so that Junior ROTC instructor eligibility can include non-retired former service members that meet individual branch requirements. The inconsistency has created unnecessary barriers for qualified professionals seeking to serve in our schools. The proposed amendments being presented today are consistent with the Department’s commitment to regulatory clarity and fairness, but are also essential to expanding the pool of qualified military science candidates at a time when demand is high and recruitment is challenging, No vote was taken by the State Board of Education on these proposed amendments at today’s meeting.
Proposed Revisions to New Jersey Student Learning Standards
The Board received a presentation on proposed updates to three content areas:
Computer Science, Innovation, and Society (CSIS) (formerly Computer Science & Design Thinking) New proposals include:
- Integrates Computer Science, Design & Technology, and Digital Literacy into a single unified framework
- Embeds AI literacy across all grade levels
- Aligns educational technology with CS and engineering
- Strengthens cybersecurity content
- Realigns engineering standards with K–5 science for greater STEM coherence
In short, 8.1 Computer Science addresses the “what” of AI, its structure, logic and function. 8.2 Engineering Design and Technology addresses the “how”, applying AI tools to design, test and innovate. And 8.3, Digital Literacy, addresses the “why” understanding the implications, ethics and human dimensions of AI in society. The Computer science, innovation and society standards emphasize real-world problem-solving, ethical use of technology, and adaptability in a rapidly changing digital landscape.These standards are designed to be flexible and future ready.
World Languages
Key proposed changes include:
- Reorganization into three modes of communication
- Interpretive (listen/read/view)
- Interpersonal
- Presentational
- Strengthened emphasis on intercultural competence
- Updated language to be applicable across spoken, written, and signed languages
Visual & Performing Arts
As the previous two subject matter area reviews began, the first step for updating the Visual and Performing Arts standards began with bridging together expert committees. The experts recommended several major revisions: reduction and consolidation of performance expectations, realignment and consolidation performance expectations, realignment of performance expectations, enhanced learning progressions, revised alphanumeric coding to clarify the intent of proficiency levels, and clarification of performance expectations language. For example, While 2020 performance expectations called for analysis of selected music by reading and performing, the 2025 proposed consolidated performance expectations called for analysis of music selected for performance by reading and performing using appropriate notation,
Next Steps
The next step is the public testimony phase – Please note that registration to testify on the draft revisions in Career Readiness, Life Literacies and Key Skills, Science; Computer Science and Design Thinking, World Languages, Visual and Performing Arts, opens on December 16, 2025 and closes at noon on January 8, 2026.
Once the public testimony phase closes, the Department will make additional revisions based on feedback from the public. We anticipate that adoption will be in the coming months.
Applications are open through December 15th for committees reviewing the final two remaining areas: Comprehensive Health & Physical Education and Social Studies.
The next meeting of the State Board of Education is scheduled for January 7th, 2026. There is also scheduled an “Open Topic” public testimony session to be held on January 7, 2026, offering individuals an opportunity to share input on any education-related issue. If you are interested in testifying before the State Board about a topic important to you, particularly the proposed updates to the Student Learning Standards. NJPSA will work with you to both prepare and present your testimony.
Have a wonderful holiday season and we will see you from 100 Riverview Plaza again in a month!