New Jersey Education Commissioner Lucille E. Davy is reaching out to school districts throughout the state to help school officials ease parental fears about releasing student information for the NJ SMART database – the state’s new student tracking system. 

In a Nov. 3 letter sent to districts, Davy said she knows that many school districts are experiencing difficulty in getting information from parents. She attached another letter with her signature on it, in Spanish and English that districts could send out to parents to alleviate some fears they have expressed about releasing personal information about their children to the state. 

Dec. 18 Deadline Davy has indicated to Leadership for Educational Excellence, a coalition of state-level education groups including the NJSBA, that school districts must input the best available information by Dec. 18. 

“The federal government is requiring all states to create statewide student databases. This is a very positive development for both students and the department,” Davy wrote in the letter to parents. “It will mean that your child’s teachers and administrators will be able to track the process of each individual student from year to year, even if your family moves to different school districts. It will also give the department and your local district the information needed to make good decisions about programs and resources.” 

Most Info in School Files Under the new NJ SMART database, each public school student in the state will be assigned an identification number so that personal information, such as their name and home address will not be accessible. Most of the 43 pieces of information needed for each student are already on file at the students’ respective schools. No Social Security numbers will be required. However, if further information is needed, such as where a student was born, the district may contact parents.

For further information, visit the education department's special Web page.