The New Jersey Department of Education issued advisories Aug. 17 informing the education community about an array or resources to support teachers, parents and students.
An advisory on a kindergarten to third grade education program resource packet highlights tools to assist New Jersey’s early childhood educators in building effective home/school partnerships that support student learning and development. The primary goal of the K-3 Resources is to expand and strengthen learning beyond the classroom. The packet contains targeted resources, communication templates, learning tools and sample communications on a variety of topics. The subject matter of each resource was developed with input from New Jersey practitioners who work with parents and families daily. You can find the online packet here.
Another advisory focused on the launch of a new Office of Special Education website. Each page has been designed in collaboration with specialists from the OSE and stakeholders throughout the state, and there are new tools that highlight opportunities afforded to the special education community. In coming months, the NJDOE will offer webinars to empower users on how to take full advantage of the website’s features. Visit the new website.
The NJDOE also shared news about its new school improvement survey platform. In fall 2022, the department will team up with the School Climate Transformation Project to provide access to the New Jersey School Climate Improvement platform, which will cover topics such as relationships, safety, sense of connectedness, teaching and learning and features of an equitable and supportive institutional environment, including conditions for social and emotional learning. The survey platform collects and reports school data using responsive technology to support data analysis and school climate improvement planning. This information may be helpful to school districts as they plan for the effective use of American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief funds. Visit the New Jersey School Climate Improvement Survey website and submit an interest form for additional information.