Press Releases

The Newark Board of Education Approves a 10-Year Strategic Plan The Next Decade: 2020–30

In a bold statement, the members of the Newark Board of Education approved the District’s 10-year strategic plan, The Next Decade: 2020-30, at the Public Board Meeting held on June 23, 2020.

In order to transition to The Next Decade, Superintendent Roger León first looked at the strategic plans of his predecessors and he created NPS Clarity 2020. This was a one-year strategic plan which resulted from the ideas, time, and planning of many members of the Newark community.  NPS Clarity 2020 built a new ecosystem of education within our city utilizing collaborative planning, coordinating local resources and agencies, engaging stakeholders, aligning board members, prioritizing equity, and keeping students at the center of all decisions. NPS Clarity 2020 is the bridge that connects us to The Next Decade: 2020-30.

The Next Decade: 2020–30, is a plan like no other, because for the first time in the history of the Newark Board of Education, there is a roadmap that connects the past and sets the stage for an incredible future.  The Next Decade: 2020-30 spans ten years, has six major priorities and thirty-five strategies: 

  • Priority 1:  Unified and Aligned Systems
  • Priority 2:  A Rigorous and Relevant Framework for Curriculum and Instruction
  • Priority 3:  Strength-Based and Responsive Culture
  • Priority 4:  Continuous Learning for All
  • Priority 5:  Integrated System of Supports
  • Priority 6:  Strong Reciprocal Partnerships

The Next Decade 2020-30 is the gold standard for collaborative strategic planning because it contains methodologies that incorporate learning from conception to cradle to college to careers, and considers equity at all levels. 

For more information, please contact:

Newark Board of Education
Nancy Deering, Interim Executive Director
Communications
973-733-6265

About The Newark Public Schools District
The Newark Public Schools District, with 66 schools, 5,877 employees and a student population of 37,291 is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey. Its origin dates back to 1676. Barringer High School, in Newark’s North Ward, is the third oldest public high school in the nation. The ethnic diversity of the city provides a rich educational experience for pre-kindergarten to secondary school students. The district continues to revise its services to meet the changing needs of students.

Murphy Administration Announces Return to Full Local Control to Newark School District

Click here to view the School Accountability Scorecard

[TRENTON] Today, the New Jersey State Board of Education voted to return full local control to the Newark School District, nearly 25 years to the day after the state assumed control of district operations.

“This is a historic day for Newark, and a day for celebration,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “For a quarter century, the local board of education in Newark has not had the full power to make decisions for their community. Today, full local control of the public schools has been restored to the people of Newark so that the local school board can address the unique needs of the school community.”

“We know that schools operate most effectively when they have the support and buy-in of stakeholders in the community,” said Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet. “This milestone came about through the sheer determination and dedication of so many people at the local level, including parents, educators, school administrators and civic leaders.”

On July 5, 1995, the State Board of Education removed the authority of the Newark Board of Education and took control of the school district, which had struggled for years with academic and management issues. A 2005 law created the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability System (NJQSAC), a system to monitor all school districts in five key areas: Instruction & Program; Governance; Fiscal; Operations; and Personnel. The NJQSAC monitoring system is used by the Department of Education to determine whether to return state-operated districts to the control of the local board of education.

Three years ago, the State Board determined that Newark Public Schools had made sustained progress in all five functional areas, and in 2018 the Department collaborated with the district to implement a two-year transition plan to local control. The Department enlisted an independent entity, the Bloustein Local Government Research Center at Rutgers University, to establish a Comprehensive Accountability Office (CAO) to assess the school district’s quantitative progress toward meeting benchmarks in the transition plan, as measured by metrics on an Accountability Scorecard. In addition, a Highly Skilled Professional, Ms. Anzella Nelms, was hired by the Department to assist the district in implementing the transition plan and to provide qualitative observations regarding the district’s progress.

On Wednesday, the State Board received the final reports of the CAO and the Highly Skilled Professional, which both affirmed the district’s substantial and sustainable progress. After Commissioner Repollet recommended the district be returned fully to local control, the Board adopted a resolution approving the withdrawal of Newark Public Schools from state intervention.

“Today’s vote marks a new and exciting chapter for the Newark Public Schools,” said Kathy Goldenberg, President of the State Board of Education. “I am confident that the students, parents, teachers, staff, administrators, superintendent, and board members of the Newark Public Schools will continue to demonstrate the success that stems from community-driven and student-focused efforts.”

"This is truly a historic day in Newark and we are grateful to all who have contributed to this momentous occasion,” said Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger León. “We have learned from the past, are preparing for a promising future, and are committed to working tirelessly to provide a first-class education for all of the children of the City of Newark.”

Newark Board of Education (NBOE) Organizes Task Force to Focus on Reopening Schools Safely

Newark, New Jersey [May 8, 2020] On Monday, May 4, 2020, Mayor Ras. J. Baraka announced the Newark Reopening and Recovery Strikeforce. In alignment with those efforts, Superintendent León created the NBOE Task Force for the Reopening of Schools. This is a comprehensive and already growing team of stakeholders that includes principals, teachers, other instructional and non-instructional school-based staff, central office employees, board members, parents, students, community members, and union leaders. The Superintendent has charged this group with the responsibility of providing recommendations and guidance for consideration regarding the reopening of schools, whether it is for Summer 2020 or next school year.

The co-chairpersons of this task force are Deputy Superintendent Nicole T. Johnson and School Business Administrator Valerie Wilson. Yesterday, was the first day of a series of meetings. The Task Force will take an in-depth look at several areas such as school operations including the distribution of meals, adherence to social distancing guidelines and the implementation of precautionary measures; student and staff supports which includes counseling, training on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and screening for trauma; and instructional considerations such as scheduling and extended learning time.

“While we know that all decisions will be guided by science and executive orders, we are preparing for the reopening of schools and simultaneously perfecting remote learning,” said Superintendent León. “So, threaded throughout this body of work, is our responsibility to build confidence in students, families, and staff with the idea of returning to school,” he added.

For more information, please contact:
Newark Board of Education
Nancy Deering, Interim Executive Director
Communications
973-733-6265

About The Newark Public Schools District
The Newark Public Schools District, with 66 schools, 5,877 employees and a student population of 37,291 is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey. Its origin dates back to 1676. Barringer High School, in Newark’s North Ward, is the third oldest public high school in the nation. The ethnic diversity of the city provides a rich educational experience for pre-kindergarten to secondary school students. The district continues to revise its services to meet the changing needs of students.

Newark Public Schools and Panasonic Team Up to Honor Newark’s Top Graduating High School Seniors Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Newark, NJ – May 6, 2020 – On the heels of Newark Public Schools (NPS) Superintendent Roger León’s promise to high school seniors that the district would find a way to celebrate its graduates despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the 70 top performing high school seniors graduating from Newark’s public high schools are getting special recognition for their outstanding achievements. Panasonic Corporation of North America has donated 70 Panasonic TOUGHBOOK® laptop computers to NPS to help honor members of the 2020 graduating class. Students hailing from the district’s 15 high schools, who are among the top in their class this school year, will receive a Panasonic laptop.

“Panasonic’s steadfast commitment to the City of Newark and our students remains unparalleled,” said Newark’s Superintendent of Schools Roger León. “Through this historic moment in time, we will always remember that Panasonic maintained NPS at the forefront of their work.”

In addition to the laptop donation valued at $130K, the Panasonic Foundation also contributed $25,000 to NPS to support a variety of student needs during the COVID-19 crisis. “We are proud to congratulate the graduating class of 2020,” said Alejandra Ceja, executive director, Panasonic Foundation. “Panasonic wanted to support Newark students and let them know that their hard work has not gone unnoticed. We hope these donations help these young leaders through this difficult time and prepare for the next chapter in their lives.”

 

For more information, please contact:

Newark Board of Education
Nancy Deering, Interim Executive Director
Communications
973-733-6265

Panasonic Corporation North America
Angela Daniels, Communications & Outreach Manager
Office of Corporate Social Responsibility & Panasonic Foundation
862-955-0748
angela.daniels@nullus.panasonic.com

Jerry Rizzo, Sr. Communications Manager
Corporate Communications
201-463-9790
gerald.rizzo@nullus.panasonic.com

About The Newark Public Schools District
The Newark Public Schools District, with 66 schools, 5,877 employees and a student population of 37,291 is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey. Its origin dates back to 1676. Barringer High School, in Newark’s North Ward, is the third oldest public high school in the nation. The ethnic diversity of the city provides a rich educational experience for pre-kindergarten to secondary school students. The district continues to revise its services to meet the changing needs of students.

The Newark Board of Education supports City of Newark efforts to ensure that all residents are counted in Census 2020

[Newark, New Jersey – April 26, 2020] In support of the City of Newark’s effort to ensure that everyone in every household is counted, Superintendent Roger León, of the Newark Board of Education has designated Monday, April 27, 2020 as Census 2020 Day for all schools in the district.

“We have been emphasizing the message that everyone in the great city of Newark, must be counted”, said Superintendent León.  He added, “The consequences for an inaccurate count for our school district is detrimental and will be realized in a number of fiscal, programmatic and legislative shortfalls.  We cannot afford to let that happen.”

Understanding that our parents hold the key to accurate counts, members of the district’s parent engagement teams attended monthly training sessions on the importance of Census completion with Census Bureau staff from the tri-state area. Title I and many other federal programs use the Census number to distribute millions of dollars to school districts, multiple times in any given year.  Needless to say, accurate counts have the power to change the lives of children. 

Census 2020 Day marks the culmination of activities spanning more than a year.  To reinforce our message, the Newark Board of Education has lead a number of Census related activities, which include but not limited to the following:

  • Census 2020 Workshops for parents were conducted in most of our schools.
  • Parent Liaisons in each school, facilitated small group Census completion sessions and assisted families in navigating the Census website.
  • Bureau volunteers from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, fielded parent questions while manning information tables during our Districtwide Report Card night.
  • Students participated in the Essex County Fairy Trail Census Program where they learned about the impact the Census count can have on their community.
  • Elementary school students submitted more than 50 entries in the Newark City Art Census Logo competition, designed to raise awareness.
  • Worked with the Complete Count Committee and other partners, to develop a bilingual PSA.
  • Advocates for Children of New Jersey provided Census materials in multiple languages, which were strategically placed in all schools and on the district’s website.

On Monday, Census 2020 Day, every Social Studies teacher will use their period with students to review the importance of completing the Census, discuss the benefits and remind them that them that it only takes a few minutes complete.

Finally, during the month of May, we will continue to strengthen the learning by including the Census in mathematics lessons, so that each week, students will study the Census through statistics.  Everyone must be counted, No Excuses, No Exceptions! 

Newark Board of Education President, Josephine Garcia said “I am proud of the work that is being done because statistics reveal that urban areas like ours are historically undercounted, which is why we must make every effort to see that everyone who should be counted is counted.”

 

About The Newark Public Schools District

The Newark Public Schools District, with 66 schools, 5,877 employees and a student population of 37,291 is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey. Its origin dates back to 1676. Barringer High School, in Newark’s North Ward, is the third oldest public high school in the nation. The ethnic diversity of the city provides a rich educational experience for pre-kindergarten to secondary school students. The district continues to revise its services to meet the changing needs of students.

Educational Scholar Dr. Bettina Love Visits Students of the Newark’s Teacher Academies

Dr. Bettina L. Love[Newark, New Jersey, February 5, 2020] On Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 1:00 PM, the Newark Board of Education in partnership with Montclair State University proudly welcomes the renowned educational scholar, Dr. Bettina Love, to University High School in Newark, New Jersey.

Dr. Bettina L. Love is an award-winning author and Associate Professor of Educational Theory & Practice at the University of Georgia. She is one of the field’s most esteemed educational researchers, studying how anti-blackness operates in schools, Hip Hop education, and urban education. 

Superintendent of Schools Mr. Roger León said, “Dr. Bettina Love’s scholarship helps us to reimagine schools that are designed around social justice and educational freedom.  Her visit with our Teacher Academy will enable our high school students, who want to become aspiring educators, to critically reflect on what it means to teach for justice.”

Dr. Love will visit with University High School-Home of the Humanities to lead a discussion with students from the Teacher Academies for Social Justice, a premier academy of both University High School and East Side High School.  While visiting the Teacher Academy students, Dr. Love will interact with students through a student moderated panel discussion. Dr. Love will also sign copies of her book, which are being provided to all teacher academy students through funding secured through a Victoria Foundation grant.

“We are excited about Dr. Love’s visit to share insight on the important research she is conducting” said Board President Josephine Garcia.  “Our students and staff are very fortunate, and we welcome the dialogue,” she added.

Rooted in democratic ideals that place value in student voice and community cultural capital, The Teacher Academy for Social Justice Education (TASJE) and MSU’s teacher education programs both share values that are echoed by Dr. Love’s scholarship. It is with great pleasure and gratitude that the teacher academies of University and East Side high schools welcome Dr. Bettina Love and representatives from Montclair State University who work in partnership with the NBOE to realize the vision of the Teacher Academy.

What:   Conversation, Panel Discussion, and Book Signing: We Want To Do More Than Survive

Who:    Dr. Bettina L. Love, author and Associate Professor of Educational Theory & Practice at the University of Georgia

When:  Thursday, February 6, 2020
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
University High School
55 Clinton Place, Newark, NJ 07108

Seating is limited. Please confirm which session you would like to attend:

Nancy Deering, Interim Executive Director Communications
Newark Board of Education
Phone: 973-477-1475
ndeering@nullnewark.apppresser.com