The New Jersey State Board of Education met on March 4, 2026, to discuss several items of interest to educators and school leaders across the state. The meeting was the first for the new Commissioner, Dr. Lily Laux, and included a thoughtful presentation about the new adaptive standardized tests from the student representative, recognition resolutions for gifted and talented as well as the military connected child, and other important updates on statewide initiatives.
Student Representative Shares Feedback on New Adaptive State Assessments
Student Representative Kailynn Derose of East Brunswick High School shared feedback she gathered from students regarding the field testing of New Jersey’s new adaptive statewide assessment. This field test, administered this past fall, allowed students across the state to experience an early version of the full-length exam that will be administered operationally beginning this spring.
Derose explained that many New Jersey students are already familiar with adaptive testing through national assessments such as the SAT, PSAT, and ACT. However, after surveying fellow juniors at her school, she found that many students were unaware of several digital tools built into the testing platform, including the ability to bookmark questions or use a virtual notepad. Students reported that these features were neither explained verbally nor clearly introduced before testing began. Derose only found them by using her own valuable test taking time to “click around” the software.
She also highlighted several usability concerns with the testing interface. For example, the visual indicator used to mark bookmarked questions, a small gray triangle, was difficult to see against the test’s white background. In addition, students were unable to highlight passages during the reading and writing sections, a tool many test takers rely on when reviewing longer texts. Derose noted that while students could highlight the question prompt, this was often less helpful than highlighting the passage itself.
Importantly, Derose emphasized that these comments were not intended as criticism of or retaliation to the new assessment, but rather as constructive feedback intended to improve the testing experience before the assessment is fully implemented statewide. She also encouraged the state to more intentionally gather input from students and teachers, noting that students often cannot participate in public testimony because meetings occur during school hours.
State Board members thanked Derose for her detailed analysis and for surveying her peers to bring forward the student perspective. Members noted that student voice is essential when implementing new systems and that her observations would help inform future discussions about assessment.
Commissioner Laux also expressed appreciation for the feedback and emphasized the importance of understanding the purpose of different assessments. She explained that field testing is a critical step in identifying and resolving technical or usability issues before the assessment becomes fully operational.
The Commissioner also highlighted several new resources that the Department of Education has recently released to support students, families, and educators as the adaptive assessment is introduced. These include an Adaptive Assessments webpage on the Department’s homepage, a growing Frequently Asked Questions section, informational one-pagers explaining adaptive testing, and a series of virtual information sessions. The state’s assessment portal also provides online practice tests that allow students to familiarize themselves with the testing platform and tools before taking the official assessment.
Commissioner Laux indicated that the Department will continue gathering feedback and refining the system, including addressing issues such as passage highlighting in the testing interface.
Resolution Recognizing the Month of the Military Child
The Board also considered a ceremonial resolution recognizing April as the Month of the Military Child in New Jersey. The resolution acknowledges the resilience and contributions of children in military families and recognizes the unique challenges they often face due to frequent relocations and family deployments.
The proclamation will be formally recognized at an event scheduled for April 1, 2026, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Assistant Commissioner Dr. Ambrose Duckett will represent the Department at the event.
Resolution Recognizing Gifted and Talented Education Month
The Board also recognized March as Gifted and Talented Education Month in New Jersey. The ceremonial resolution highlights the state’s ongoing commitment to supporting advanced learners and ensuring that students with exceptional abilities—including twice-exceptional learners—receive appropriate educational opportunities.
Board members noted that the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act of 2020 established clearer expectations for school districts to identify and support gifted students and expanded efforts to ensure equitable access to advanced learning opportunities. The work of the state’s Gifted and Talented Education Advisory Committee continues to guide improvements in identification practices, policies, and instructional approaches statewide.
Board Members Visit Schools Across the State
During the meeting, Board members shared reflections from recent visits to schools across the state conducted alongside Commissioner Laux. Schools in Tinton Falls, Red Bank, and Newark welcomed the Board and Department representatives to observe instructional programs and learning environments. Members expressed appreciation for the opportunity to see firsthand the engaging learning experiences taking place in New Jersey classrooms.
Personnel Appointment
The Board unanimously approved the appointment of Laura Console as Assistant Commissioner for the Division of Legal and External Services.
Religious Holidays Calendar for 2026–2027
The Board also received a Resolution for the proposed list of religious holidays permitting student absence from school for the 2026–2027 school year. No new holidays have been added to the calendar at this time. The draft calendar will be open for public testimony at the April meeting.
Commissioner Laux Confirmed by the Senate
Before wrapping up the Commissioner’s first full meeting, Board members congratulated Commissioner Laux on her unanimous confirmation by the New Jersey Senate as Commissioner of Education and expressed their excitement at getting to work with her.
Upcoming Public Testimony Opportunities
No public testimony was held during the March meeting because no discussion items were scheduled. However, public testimony will be accepted during the April meeting on two topics:
- The draft 2026–2027 Religious Holidays Calendar
- Proposed amendments to Chapter 9B (State Board of Examiners and Certification) related to the military science endorsement
The NJ State Board of Education will meet again on April 8, 2026. NJPSA will continue to monitor developments from the State Board of Education and keep members informed of updates that may impact schools and districts across New Jersey. If you have questions about agenda items from this meeting, or any other State Board of Education issue, please reach out to your NJPSA Government Relations team.