The State Board of Education convened for its monthly meeting on May 6, 2026, and discussed the topics below. A recording of the meeting can be found on the New Jersey Department of Education’s (NJDOE) YouTube page. 

State Board Calendar for 2026-2027: The State Board published its proposed meeting and public testimony calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. The board will vote to approve the calendar at its next scheduled meeting on June 3. 

Petition for rulemaking: The State Board received a petition for rulemaking on Feb. 24, 2026. The petition requested that the State Board amend N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.5 and 3.6 to change the criteria for eligibility for special education and related services for students with communication impairments. The State Board acknowledged receipt of the petition for rulemaking and, after due consideration pursuant to law, denied the petitioner’s request. The notice of receipt details the petitioner’s request and the notice of action details the State Board’s reasons for denial. 

Milken National Educator Recognition: In Honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, the State Board and Commissioner Laux recognized Jeanette Capritti as the 2025 New Jersey Milken Educator. Capritti is a seventh-grade English Language Arts teacher at Lawrence Middle School in the Lawrence Township School District. 

Model World Language and Dual Immersion Language Programs: The State Board recognized five districts for their second language programs. The districts will serve as models of best practices in dual language immersion and world language education programs. 

Dual language immersion award recipients are: 

  • Hoboken Dual Language Charter School (HoLA) – K-8 Spanish One Way Immersion 
  • North Plainfield School District – K-4 Spanish One Way Immersion and K-4 Spanish Two Way Immersion 
  • West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District – K-5 Spanish Two Way Immersion and Chinese Two Way Immersion 

World language award recipients are: 

  • Egg Harbor Township – Hispanohablantes/Heritage Speaker Program 
  • Summit Public School District – K-5 World Languages 
  • West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District – 2-12 World Languages 

2024-2025 School Performance Reports and Graduation Data: The State Board received a presentation from the Office of Performance Management on 2024-2025 school performance reports and graduation data. Highlights from the presentation include: 

  • Graduation rates: New Jersey’s 2025 state graduation rate reached an all-time high of 91.8%. 
  • Seal of biliteracy: The number of students earning the Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes graduates who are proficient in at least one language in addition to English, increased by 155% over the previous four years. 
  • Industry valued credentials: A total of 12,741 students earned credentials or certifications that are in demand in a particular occupation – a 244% increase over the previous four years. 
  • Dual enrollment: The number of students taking part in dual enrollment courses, which allow students to earn credit from a college or university while still in high school, has increased from 30% of 11th and 12th graders in 2024-2025, as compared to 22.3% four years earlier. 
  • Advanced Placement (AP): New Jersey is ranked #1 in the nation in AP course offerings, with 93.5% of public high schools offering at least one AP course and 86.2% offering five or more AP courses. 
  • Chronic absenteeism: New Jersey’s 14.4% chronic absenteeism rate for 2024-2025 remains much lower than the estimated national rate of 22% for the same year. While New Jersey’s chronic absenteeism rate has edged downward in recent years, it has not returned to the pre-pandemic level of 10.6% in 2018- 2019. 
  • Discipline: In 2024-2025, New Jersey schools reported 56,564 in-school and out-of-school suspensions – as well as 29,829 instances of violence, vandalism, substance abuse, and harassment/intimidation/bullying. The discipline figures have shown a positive downward trend in recent years, but have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. 

Certification of School Districts: The State Board approved 14 districts for certification as high performing pursuant to NJQSAC (district list here). 

Religious Holidays Calendar Resolution: The State Board adopted a resolution listing the religious holidays for the 2026-2027 school year. The 2026-2027 calendar does not add any additional holidays as compared to the 2025-2026 calendar. Districts are required to excuse students for religious observance for any of the listed holidays upon written request of the parent or guardian.