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New Jersey is comprised of 616 public school districts. These districts are charged with implementing the academic standards developed by the state. There are 2,363 public schools that serve over 1.3 million students. The New Jersey Board of Education has 13 members who are appointed by the Governor, and who serve without compensation for six-year terms.
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Current Events
The New Jersey Department of Education sends regular e-mail updates of the latest news and information about state actions and events that affect New Jersey's schools.
Content Standards
New Jersey content standards define what students are expected to know and be able to do in specific academic subject areas in order for students to attain high levels of competency, subject-specific knowledge, processes, and skills.
Assessment
New Jersey provides state assessments for students, as well as assessment and evaluation tools for reading/literacy, mathematics, and science. In the elementary grades, all New Jersey third and fourth grade students take the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK), which assesses student achievement in the knowledge and critical thinking skills defined by the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. All New Jersey middle school students take the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA). At the high school level, students take the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA). The state also provides preparation resources for students in English and Spanish languages. Alternative High School Assessment plans are provided in the state's Special Review Assessment (SRA).
This department that provides sample tests, specifications, and overviews of Mathematics, Science and Language Arts content areas.
The NJ ASK assesses student achievement in the knowledge and critical thinking skills defined by the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards in language arts literacy, mathematics, and science. This program replaced the Elementary School Proficiency Assessment (ESPA) previously administered to New Jersey's fourth graders. It is a comprehensive, multi-grade testing program for both third and fourth graders, as required by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
Curriculum and Instruction
New Jersey provides a Mathematics and Science curriculum framework, and a guide for implementing a Standards-Based Science Curriculum.
Professional Organizations
The links below represent organizations relevant to the various areas of the education field. Some of the links may provide information on networking, conferences, professional development and other resources.
AMTNJ promotes learning and teaching of mathematics at all education levels. AMTNJ engages in activities that provide a medium exchange, an active interest in mathematics, and professional involvement of teachers at all levels of mathematics education.
AWIS-CJC is an organization dedicated to achieving equity and full participation for women in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology in the Mid-Atlantic region encompassing New York City to Philadelphia, PA. The membership includes students, post-doctoral fellows, and all of those who support women in science.
GANJ is a non-profit organization that encourages Earth Science Education and the distribution of Geological information.
NJAS is a private, non-profit, scientific and educational organization that stimulates education and research in science throughout New Jersey through the production of publications, and the creation of programs to promote high school research. The organization also disseminates current research results through our annual meetings and special symposia, as well as other occasional publications.
NJASCD is an organization of diverse educational leaders transforming teaching and learning to promote excellence in the learning community by delivering best practice programs, products and services throughout New Jersey in an effective manner , b ecoming influential in the learning community, and reflect the cultural diversity of the New Jersey learning community.
NJABR is t he only organization in New Jersey dedicated solely to promoting the improvement of human and animal health through biomedical research.
NJESTA is a nonprofit educational organization whose purpose is the advancement, stimulation, extension, improvement, and coordination of Earth Science education at all educational levels.
NJMEA is group of teachers, students, marine scientists, and lay persons united in a common interest to promote Marine Science and aquatic education within all disciplines and all levels of the education process.
NJR is an organization that leads in the promotion of literacy in the state of New Jersey through collaboration, advocacy and professional development.
NJR is a statewide non-profit organization founded to raise awareness of the issues surrounding low literacy levels, to enlist volunteer reading tutors, and to set the stage for new funding opportunities from the private sector to support existing and future literacy programs.
NJSTA is an organization that promotes excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all by modeling excellence, embracing diversity through equity, respect, and opportunity for all, providing and expanding professional development to support standards-based science education, serving as the voice for excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning, curriculum and instruction, and assessment, promoting interest and support for science education, collaboratively and proactively throughout society, and exemplifying a dynamic organization that values and practices self renewal.
Informal Education
Informal education institutions, such as museums, nature centers, zoos and aquariums, and planetariums, combine classroom learning with hands-on educational experiences. The links below provide access to the many different informal education centers throughout New Jersey.
Museums and Science Centers
The Discovery House is a hands-on learning museum dedicated to stimulating natural creativity and curiosity.
The Garden State Discovery Museum is a hands-on, educational entertainment museum for young people from infancy to 10-year olds offering kid-powered, interactive exhibit areas.
The Liberty Science Center is an innovative learning resource for lifelong exploration of nature, humanity and technology, supporting the growth of our diverse region and promoting informed stewardship of the world.
Nature Centers, Parks, and Gardens
Flat Rock Brook Nature Center is a 150-acre preserve and environmental education center situated on the western slope of the Palisades.
Gateway National Recreation Area is a 26,000 acre recreation area located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area. The park extends through three New York City boroughs and into northern New Jersey. Park sites offer a variety of recreation opportunities, along with a chance to explore many significant cultural and natural resources.
The PAEWS Farm Nature Center offers a hands-on approach to nature education, and provides wildlife and farm life exhibits to encourage a closeness with the animal world.
Rancocas Nature Center is a 120-acre area of pristine land where visitors engage in self-guided nature trails and visits to the wildlife center. The Center, bird-watching mecca, also has a museum and gift shop.
Zoos, Aquariums, and Aviaries
The Bergen County Zoological Park is home to a wide variety of wild and domestic animals that live in recreated habitats natural to each species. It has many different species of exotic and rare birds, reptiles, mammals and much more. The Zoo also has a farmyard with domestic animals, a great Belgian Draft Horse and the North American Wetlands Aviary.
The Cape May County Park Zoo is a 128-acre zoo offering a wide range of recreational activities, including a variety of sports, fishing, hiking, bike riding, outdoor concerts, and more. It is home to over 100 species of wildlife. The relaxed park setting houses tigers and lions and bears, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, and many more. The zoo also features covered pavilions, open-pit barbecues, and everything else a family needs for a great outing.
The Cohanzick Zoo is New Jersey's first zoo, and has been providing education and enjoyment to the community of Bridgeton since 1934. It houses more than 200 birds and mammals from around the world. White tigers, bears, leopards, ring-tailed lemurs, and eagles are only a few of the magnificent animals that may only be seen at this zoo.
The New Jersey State Aquarium promotes understanding, appreciation, and protection of aquatic life and habitats through research, education and youth development programs.
The Space Farm Zoo & Museum encompasses 400-acres and is home to the largest private collection of North American wildlife in the world. The zoo includes bobcats, tigers, lions, buffalo, monkeys, llamas and even yaks, among a wide assortment of other endangered creatures.
The Turtle Back Zoo, focusing on New Jersey wildlife, has 500 animals of 200 different species. The collection includes cougars, bison, eagles, and wolves, all of which were originally found in the state.
Planetariums and Observatories
The Edwin E. Aldrin Astronomical Center, named for the second man on the Moon, is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to exploring the cosmos.
NJACE, at Raritan Valley Community College, consists of a 100-seat Planetarium providing sky shows for schools and the public year round, and the Teacher Professional Development Institute providing numerous teacher professional development opportunities in astronomy.
At the New Jersey State Museum Planetarium visitors can soar through the skies in a modern and spacious 150-seat planetarium.
The Alice and Leonard Dreyfus Planetarium is located in the Newark Museum, which has numerous collections, exhibitions, programs and educational resources. It weaves together 80 galleries of art and science.
The Peyton Hall Astronomical Observatory holds public starwatches led by students of Princeton University's Department of Astrophysical Sciences.
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