On Sept. 9, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) announced the following professional development opportunities for educators:
2026-2027 Professional Development Opportunities for Educators of Multilingual Learners
The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is pleased to offer a variety of professional learning opportunities for educators who support Multilingual Learners (MLs). These opportunities help local educational agencies (LEAs) meet professional development requirements outlined in Section 3115(c) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), N.J.A.C. 6A:15-1.8, and N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.3.
Through the NJDOE’s partnership with WIDA, professional development opportunities are available to educators supporting MLs. Offerings include the in-person workshops and live webinars listed in the course schedule in NJDOE’s broadcast memo, as well as on-demand videos and recorded webinars.
Registration for NJDOE-sponsored webinars and workshops will be available through the NJDOE Events Page.
The WIDA Self-Paced eWorkshop and webinar package designed to strengthen instruction and support for MLs will be available beginning September 1, 2026, and is open to all educators with a WIDA login and can be accessed through the WIDA Secure Portal.
To access WIDA self-paced courses and videos:
- Contact your District Test Coordinator or designated WIDA Account Coordinator to obtain or activate a WIDA account.
- Follow the email instructions to activate your account and create a password.
- Log in to the WIDA Secure Portal and select the desired course or video.
For additional questions, please contact the Office of Supplemental Educational Programs at (609) 376-9080 or email ml@doe.nj.gov, or refer to NJDOE’s broadcast memo for more information.
New Jersey Inclusion Project: 2026–2027 Professional Learning Opportunities
The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), Office of Special Education (OSE), in partnership with All In for Inclusive Education, is offering professional learning opportunities through the New Jersey Inclusion Project (NJIP) for the 2026-2027 school year. These offerings, funded by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B funds, are designed to support inclusive education across New Jersey schools.
Professional Learning Academies: NJIP is hosting a year-long series of virtual Professional Learning Academies from September 2026 through May 2027, organized around four themes:
- Operationalizing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) & New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.) Chapter 14: 8:30–11 a.m. on September 15, October 20, January 12, March 9, and May 11
- Inclusive Instructional Practices: High-Leverage Practices (HLPs) & High-Impact Teaching Strategies: 12–2:30 p.m. on September 15, October 20, January 12, March 9, and May 11
- Social Emotional Behavioral (SEB) Supports: 8:30–11 a.m. on September 17, October 22, January 14, March 11, and May 13
- Better Together: Collaborative Practices for Inclusive Classrooms: 12–2:30 p.m. on September 17, October 22, January 14, March 11, and May 13
Community of Practice Meetings: NJIP will also host regional Community of Practice (CoP) meetings for administrators committed to inclusive education. Meetings will be held four times during the 2026-2027 school year in each region, with each date covering the same topic statewide:
- North and Central regions: October 9, 2026; December 11, 2026; March 19, 2027; and May 14, 2027
- South region: October 2, 2026; December 18, 2026; March 12, 2027; and May 7, 2027
All In Conference 2027: The All In Conference 2027 will be held March 2-3, 2027, at the Hyatt Regency in Princeton, New Jersey. Additional details will be shared as they become available.
Please visit the All In for Inclusive Education website for the full schedule of professional learning academies, Community of Practice meetings and the All In Conference. Classroom resources are also available online for educators and families. For questions about NJIP Professional Learning Academies, Community of Practice meetings, or the All In Conference, please email info@allinforinclusiveed.org or call (732) 613-0400. Refer to NJDOE’s broadcast memo for more information.
Starting Strong: Free Virtual OpenSciEd Professional Learning Resources
Through its partnership with OpenSciEd, the New Jersey Department of Education is advancing implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Science by providing educators with open access to high-quality, standards-aligned instructional materials. OpenSciEd is a high-quality, research-based science curriculum developed through collaboration among leading science educators and researchers to support deep, engaging student learning. As an openly licensed resource, it is freely available for educators to use, adapt, and share to meet local needs.
Recognizing that many teachers begin implementing OpenSciEd without prior professional learning, OpenSciEd developed Starting Strong to provide practical, just-in-time support. This resource is designed to help educators, as well as the school and district leaders successfully launch their first middle school or high school OpenSciEd unit with confidence.
Designed with educators’ schedules in mind, the self-guided experience takes approximately six hours to complete and is divided into short, flexible modules that can be completed during planning periods or department meetings. Rather than focusing on theory, each module helps teachers prepare for what they’re about to teach, including:
- Preparing for the first unit
- Launching the anchor phenomenon
- Facilitating classroom discussions
- Pacing instruction
- Preparing for the first assessment
Each module concludes with planning activities teachers can immediately apply in their classrooms.
OpenSciEd has created two implementation options, each with a one-page facilitation guide and a sample email that leaders can customize and send to teachers:
- Using Starting Strong: Solo Approach: A teacher works the path on their own, alongside the unit they’re about to teach: Modules 0–3 before teaching starts, then one module a week.
- Using Starting Strong: Team Approach: A team works the same path together: videos projected, modules on each teacher’s own device, everyone planning their own unit side-by-side.
For any questions, please contact Michael Heinz, Science Coordinator in the Office of Standards, at Science@doe.nj.gov, or refer to NJDOE’s broadcast memo for more information.
