NJ Launches Research Project to Boost Student Learning

Among the schools selected for the project is Mount Tabor Elementary School in the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District.Photo byMorristown Minute

The New Jersey Department of Education has initiated a comprehensive research project to identify and promote innovative educational practices that have significantly accelerated student learning in schools across the state.

MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. - The Promising Practices Project, a collaboration between the New Jersey State Policy Lab and the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers University, aims to highlight successful strategies implemented by schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project focuses on identifying and disseminating effective methods that have led to substantial improvements in student performance, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

Researchers from Rutgers University have selected 52 schools from 47 school districts and charter schools for the study. These schools were chosen based on their exceptional growth in student achievement when comparing data from before and after the pandemic. The research team is currently conducting interviews with school leaders and educators to pinpoint the most successful strategies used to address learning losses during the pandemic.

“We hope that teachers statewide will be able to capitalize on the information in this initiative to provide students with innovative approaches tailored to their learning needs,” said Kevin Dehmer, Acting Education Commissioner. “We know that students throughout the state have struggled to fully recover academically in the post-pandemic world, and we remain committed to ongoing efforts to support their growth."

Map of New Jersey's "Promising Practice Schools" included in the new 2024 research study.Photo byNJ Department of Education, Promising Practice Schools

The findings from this study will be compiled into a formal report, with the intention of sharing these innovative practices with schools statewide. This will include presentations, resources, and events designed to help other educators replicate the successful programs and initiatives identified.

In addition to curriculum practices, the project will also explore other metrics such as school climate, summer and after-school programs, and unique approaches to meeting the diverse needs of student populations.

The state allocated $1 million to fund the research initiative, which began in FY23. Among the schools selected for the project is Mount Tabor Elementary School in the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District, representing Morris County.

For more information about the Promising Practices Project, visit the official webpage.

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