The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) on Aug. 3 announced that five school districts and two charter schools have received Lighthouse Awards for substantial improvement in advancing educational equity.
The Lighthouse Award recipients were announced at the NJDOE’s Virtual Statewide Equity Conference. The following schools were honored, listed by the equity area where they showed improvement:
| Increasing equity in postsecondary enrollment | |
| Burlington County | Burlington City School District |
| Hudson County | Weehawken School District |
| Increasing diversity in the teacher workforce | |
| Hudson County | Learning Community Charter School |
| Somerset County | Watchung Hills Regional High School District |
| Increasing equity in course enrollment | |
| Union County | The Barack Obama Green Charter High School |
| Burlington County | Burlington County Vocational School District |
| Increasing equity in disciplinary outcomes | |
| Hudson County | Hoboken School District |
The NJDOE launched the Lighthouse Award initiative in 2017 to recognize the advances made by New Jersey school districts and charter schools.
During the award term from August 2021 to August 2023, officials from Lighthouse districts will have the opportunity to participate in professional learning and networking opportunities, and they will lead professional learning events for educators throughout the state while providing insight to the NJDOE through policy discussions.
“I would like to congratulate the educational communities of the seven Lighthouse awardees,” said Kathy Goldenberg, president of the New Jersey State Board of Education. “I commend these school districts and charter schools for their commitment to student achievement and equitable outcomes. This recognition will allow educators from across New Jersey to learn and benefit from the practices of these seven school districts and charter schools during their 2021-2023 award term.”