State Board of Education Discusses Assessment Results and Recognizes PTA Members at November Meeting 

The State Board of Education convened for its monthly meeting on Nov. 4, 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. 

Report of Student Representative 

The State Board’s student representative, Emilia Reynolds, gave her monthly report, speaking about her experience participating in the State Board of Education panel discussion at NJSBA’s Workshop 2026. 

Resolution in Recognition of Parent Teacher Association Membership Month 

The State Board adopted a resolution recognizing November as Parent Teacher Association Membership Month in New Jersey. 

Monthly Literacy Update 

As part of an ongoing series of conversations on literacy, Commissioner Laux shared recent highlights from literacy instruction in New Jersey. She spoke about the superintendent panel she moderated at NJSBA’s Workshop 2026, noting how multiple members of the panel spoke about their use of literacy screener data to strengthen instruction. Commissioner Laux also spoke about recent visits the Department has made to school districts and how they have observed literacy instruction in action. 

School Funding Outreach Update 

Commissioner Laux provided several updates on NJDOE’s Statewide School Funding Outreach project, highlighting regional forums and community roundtables that the Department is hosting to gather feedback and input from stakeholders in the education community. To date, NJDOE has hosted 19 forums and community roundtables with more than 1,000 total participants. Those interested in participating can register for events on NJDOE’s website. Finally, Commissioner Laux noted that NJDOE published the New Jersey School Funding Outreach Survey, designed for families, students, educators, school leaders, community members, taxpayers, and others across the state. The survey asks about the opportunities, resources and supports students need to succeed; the barriers facing students, schools, and communities; and how New Jersey’s school funding system could become more transparent, predictable, accountable, and responsive to student needs. 

Spring 2026 Statewide Assessment Overview 

NJDOE’s Division of Academic Services provided an update on results from New Jersey’s Spring 2026 statewide assessments. This update is notable because Spring 2026 was the first time New Jersey used its new adaptive assessments. Across all tested grade levels for NJSLA-A, 51.1% of students met or exceeded proficiency in English Language Arts (grades 3 through 9); 41.7% of students met or exceeded proficiency in Mathematics (grades 3 through 8 and End-of-Course); and 24.9% of students met or exceeded proficiency in Science (grades 5, 8, and 11). Among grade 11 students taking the NJGPA-A, 75.5% of students tested as graduation-ready in English Language Arts and 61.0% of students tested as graduation-ready in Mathematics. 

More information on the statewide overview can be found in NJDOE’s presentation from the meeting. District-level results can be found on NJDOE’s website. 

Department Appointments 

The State Board approved the appointment of Kimberly Gatti as Director of the Office of Recruitment, Preparation, and Certification in the Division of Academic Standards. 

Certification of School Districts 

Since the State Board’s Oct. 2026 meeting, NJDOE conducted three NJQSAC interim reviews and two full reviews. The State Board approved two districts for certification as high performing. 

The next meeting of the State Board will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026.