Press Releases

Survey Results Show that 95% of Families Rate Their Experience with the Enrollment Application Process ‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’

In preparation for the release of school enrollment matches, NPS releases parent survey results

 

(Newark, NJ – April 19, 2018) — Today, Newark Public Schools (NPS) released results from nearly 1800 post-application surveys taken by parents of Newark students participating in the Newark Enrolls process. The survey asked parents to rate their experience with the application process, to share information about how they learned about the process, and to share information about their preferences. 95% of those surveyed shared that they found their experience with the enrollment process ‘good’ or ‘very good,’ and 96% said they found the application ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to navigate.

“While the district has made improvements in recent years, it is important for us to be more transparent than ever about the data we collect during the enrollment process.” said Interim Superintendent Robert Gregory. “I am encouraged by this parent feedback, and remain committed to examining the strengths and weaknesses of all of our existing policies, processes, and systems as we transition back to local control. We are sharing these results today to further inform that conversation.”

Data about where parents live shows that families who responded appear to be equally represented from wards across Newark. In addition to aggregated survey data, the district is also releasing approximately 800 written survey responses (un-edited with redactions to protect individual identification), so the public can see directly what parents are saying about their experience. Survey data and written responses are available for review.

“Our goal as a district is to make enrolling in a school as easy as possible for parents, while ensuring that there is a neutral set of rules to ensure the process is fair and equitable for everyone,” added Gabrielle Ramos-Solomon, Chief of School Planning, Enrollment and Family Supports at Newark Public Schools. “These results show us that the vast majority of families who participate in the enrollment process find the application easy to navigate and are rating their experience high.”

The survey results come after the district has made a number of improvements to the process in recent years to make it more family friendly. These include releasing a video that explains how the process works, creating a Family Enrollment Portal to give parents the ability to directly address concerns they may have after the initial school match is made, and a number of policy changes in response to parental feedback, including full neighborhood preference.

These results also add to information released in a study last week out of Columbia University that analyzes enrollment data and shares key takeaways for the Newark community to consider.

Families awaiting their match results will be able to access them after 12:00pm on Friday, April 20th at www.NewarkEnrolls.org

National Week of the Young Child

Newark Public Schools Teams Up with “Cool Cat” to Launch the City’s 1st Family Pass to Newark’s Arts and Culture Programs for Children

Partnership Aims to Make Newark a Haven for Children’s First Exposure to Arts and Culture, Creative Curriculum, Expanded Extended Learning & Family Engagement

Newark Museum, Newark Arts Council, United Way, Whole Foods Partner Too


[NEWARK, New Jersey, April 17, 2018] Newark is fast becoming a capital for arts and culture for adults and now with the launch of the “Cool Cat” Family Pass, a national model for youth engagement to arts and culture, the city is quickly becoming the same arts and culture capital for Newark children and toddlers.

Newark Public Schools (NPS) announced today that they are partnering with Cool Cat Family Pass, the United Way of Essex and West Hudson, the Newark School of the Arts, the Newark Museum and other businesses and organizations to officially launch the Cool Cat Family Pass for Newark; a program by moms for kids. Since Cool Cat started less than three months ago, more than 800 families have registered for the program. NPS has already registered more than 1,000 kids and families for the Cool Cat Family Pass. NPS serves nearly 7,000 with their Early Childhood programs.

“The Cool Cat Family Pass provides a unique and free opportunity for young children, like those in our Early Childhood Programs, to use creative ways to learn, and it reinforces extended learning,” said Robert Gregory, Interim Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “This partnership is particularly important to NPS because we know where there is exploration of the mind, through art and music, you will find a direct link to advanced learning and academic success.”

The Family Pass, according to Tamara Remedios, founder of Cool Cat, was designed to provide families with access to over 100 free family events in Newark. Ms. Remedios said, “For me personally, as a Newark preschool mom, I wanted Newark families to take advantage of the cultural and arts scene that has grown tremendously over the last 10 years! The benefits of arts with early childhood will develop their cognitive, creative, social, linguistic and emotional skills. The events also help strengthen parent-child bonds and engage the parent – this is important to empower parents as we take on local control and need to expand parent involvement.”

According to F. Nana Ofosu Amaah, Executive Director of the Office of Early Childhood for NPS, a Newark family needs assessment was conducted to determine how often families with toddlers were engaged in arts and culture in Newark. Parents with children in Pre-Kindergarten programs completed nearly 1,400 Needs Assessment Surveys; of this group, 49 percent were enrolled in Pre-K 3 and 52 percent were Pre-K 4. The data found that Pre-K parents rarely visited cultural institutions. Families had the option to complete the survey in English and Spanish to increase the pool of responses. Overall, this survey is one of the Office of Early Childhood’s most effective tools in gauging parent and community need in order to understand how to create more opportunities and assistance for parents to be active participants in their children’s enrichment and education, according to Ms. Ofosu Amaah.  She added that the questions incorporated the frequency of parent engagement in reading, playing games, visiting a local library/museum and arts & crafts. “It is critical for our youngest learners to be exposed to the arts; the research is clear on the effects of the arts on children’s development, learning and expression.   We are excited and honored to be able to support a Pre-K Mom-preneur in creating the Cool CAT program for fellow Pre-K Families.  We hope this creates a renewed movement of children and families engaging in learning and creating together in the arts.”

The Cool Cat program will serve as a wonderful opportunity for families to connect to arts and culture. It will also help families build social connections within their communities. This program will revolutionize how we engage families in Pre-K, according to Nayibe Capellan, Special Assistant for the NPS Office of Early Childhood.

Additional partners in the Cool Cat Program are the United Way of Essex and West Hudson, the Newark Museum and the Newark Arts Council. Jeremy Johnson, Executive Director of the Newark Arts Council, “Newark is the nation’s top arts destination, being in the top 10 nationally speaks to our prominence in the arts – we must share the special gifts of our city with the children and families of Newark.

In closing, Cool Cat mother Tiffani Ratliff said, “My family LOVES The Cool Cat Family Pass, and as a Mom of three and as a family worker in the city; I believe that this is one of the COOLEST programs that allows us to explore all of the hidden and historic gems around and beyond the City of Newark! From the Hands-On Healthy Foods Workshops to the Maker Space sessions at the Newark Museum- We love & appreciate this program and anticipate many fun, cool, & informative events to come!” Cool Cat stands for Cool Artsy Toddler.

April is Autism Awareness Month

Newark Public Schools Kicks Off Month to Raise Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion


[NEWARK, NJ – April 11, 2019] Newark Public Schools today officially launched Autism Awareness Month with a family oriented program that promotes awareness, inclusion and acceptance. Throughout the month of April, the Newark Public Schools Department of Special Education is hosting a number of programs to engage students, parents and caretakers further, to deepen the understanding of autism in the community and to encourage compassion and inclusion.

Today’s launch at the headquarters at 765 Broad Street was preceded by a professional development workshop for administrators, teachers and child study team members, and will be followed by sensory awareness sessions for educators, and finally movie night.”

“The number of young people with autism is astounding,” said Robert Gregory, Interim Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. Gregory said, “New Jersey represents one of the highest rates of autism. The numbers are extraordinary and call for a number of supports, services and curriculum that provide the right framework for teachers to teach students with autism and for students to learn in a school environment designed with their individual progress in mind.”

The Newark Public School District has more than 500 students with autism encompassing 12 schools, including 9 elementary schools and three high schools. Central High School was the first high school to teach students with autism, while American History High School (AHH) was the first Magnet School to teach students with autism. In fact, Interim Superintendent Gregory, as the Founding Principal of American History High School started the autism program at AHH. Students with autism are allowed to graduate high school up until the age of 21. As a result a number of Gregory’s students will graduate this year from America History High School.

“National Autism Awareness month represents an excellent opportunity to promote autism awareness and autism acceptance,” said Carolyn Granato, Assistant Superintendent of Special Education. “It is our goal to incorporate these tenets into our teaching and into the culture and climate of every school and in every encounter. We believe we can move one step closer to a society where those with ASD’s are truly valued for their unique talents and gifts.”

Last week, the Superintendent joined Michele Adubato, Executive Director of The North Ward Center at the official opening of The Center for Autism on Roseville Avenue in Newark. The center is a teaching facilitator and learning center and has a simulated apartment and kitchen to illustrate to students how to function in the home comfortably for adults with autism. This week, The Center hosted Senator Robert Menendez, who shared legislation he sponsored and new ideas in addressing autism, nationally and particularly here in New Jersey.

The Concert of the Season

Newark Public Schools Hosts the 2018 NPS MIDDLE SCHOOL All City Music Concert


[Newark, New Jersey – April 9, 2019] The sounds of music will fill the air this Tuesday night as Newark Public Schools hosts the 2018 NPS Middle School All City Music Concert. The concert will be held from 5 – 6 p.m. at Arts High School, located at 550 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

“This year, we are honored to again present the best in music and song with students from across the District,” said Interim Superintendent of Newark Public Schools Robert Gregory. “Thank you to the students, music teachers and especially to Margaret El, who continues to keep the arts, including music, as a priority in our schools.”

This year’s concert will feature choirs, bands, strings, guitar and a pre-show recorder ensemble by Camden Street Schools. According to Margaret El, Special Assistant for Music Education, “I am proud of our student’s progress and commitment to the arts. This particular All City Music Concert is special to us at NPS because it captures the collaborative effort and sound of music from our students.”

The following areas of music and schools will be featured:

Choirs

  • Abington Avenue
  • Arts High School
  • Avon Avenue
  • Cleveland
  • Dr. William H. Horton
  • First Avenue
  • Lafayette Street
  • Rafael Hernandez
  • Wilson Avenue

Bands

  • First Avenue
  • Lafayette Street
  • Lincoln
  • Rafael Hernandez
  • South Street
  • Wilson Avenue

Strings

  • Arts High School
  • Avon Avenue
  • First Avenue
  • Lincoln
  • Rafael Hernandez
  • Wilson Avenue

Guitar

  • Abington Avenue
  • Dr. William H. Horton
  • Elliott Street
  • Lafayette Street
  • Rafael Hernandez
  • Wilson Avenue

Register for Summer Plus for Academic and Health & Fitness Programs

More than 6,000 Newark Youth Participated in 2017 – Deadline is May 4

 

[Newark, NJ – April 3, 2016] – Families interested in having their child participate in Newark Public Schools’ (NPS) Summer Plus program must complete an application by Friday, May 4. Summer Plus is a free district-wide initiative to curb summer learning loss and provide enrichment experiences for students that enhances and expands their academic experience over the summer months.

“It is vital for students to be adequately prepared when they begin the school year in September,” said A. Robert Gregory, Interim Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “Summer Plus ensures that students will not lose valuable learning time during the summer and will walk into their classroom next year with confidence and readiness to have a successful academic year.”

Summer Plus was developed by NPS’ curriculum experts to improve critical math and literacy skills and ensure that participants are prepared for the upcoming school year. It also includes enrichment experiences in arts, STEM, and health and fitness aligned to academics, so that summer learning is a fun and rich experience. Parents should be advised that space is limited and not all students may be accepted; accepted students will receive a confirmation letter in May.

“We are proud to be able to offer additional opportunities for our students to continue their education outside of the regular school year,” said Sarah Cruz, Special Assistant of Extended Learning Time. “Students who participate in the Summer Plus program are better prepared for the next step in their education and feel more confident taking on new challenges in the classroom.”

In addition to Summer Plus, families have the opportunity to enroll their children in a number of programs offered by community organizations in Newark and greater New Jersey. In partnership with Newark Thrives! — a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve access to high-quality, out-of-school time opportunities for Newark youth — NPS is proud to announce the availability of an online catalogue of summer opportunities for students in grades PreK – 12. To learn more about this summer catalogue, please visit: www.nps.k12. nj.us/summerprograms

SUMMER PLUS is available for grades K – 7. The program includes math and language arts classes in the morning and fun learning activities in the afternoon. All students must be Newark residents. Students who receive a recommendation from their school will receive enrollment preference. The program begins July 9 and ends on August 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are served for this portion of the program. Students who register for the 3 – 6 p.m. portion of the program receive a snack, as well. Summer sites are assigned based on the student’s current school.

In addition, three additional programs are being offered this year; ENGLISH PLUS, EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR AND SUMMER SPORTS CAMP.

English Plus is offered for grades K – 11 and is available for current bilingual students. This program focuses on developing English skills through reading, writing, speaking and listening, as well as, hands-on science experiences and mathematics. Extended School Year is for current IEP eligible students with Special Needs in grades PK – 11. Summer Sports Camps range from cheerleading to football/track, girls basketball and sports, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and more. Summer Sports is for grades 2 – 11. All programs are free.

For complete details about NPS summer programs, please visit: newark.apppresser.com/summerprograms.

Barringer STEAM Think Tank

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Barringer Think Tank Communications Summary 4Big Picture and PSE&G sponsored Barringer S.T.E.A.M.’s first STEAM Think Tank on February 15th. There were over 40 guests in attendance. We had representation from Rutgers, Clara Maass Hospital, Mars-Wrigley, Greater Newark Conservancy, The Newark STEAM Coalition, our Alumni Association and more. We also had leadership representation from Central Office. Deputy Executive Director from the Office of Bilingual Education Rebecca Odessey, Special Assistants Margaret El (Arts Department), Chamiris Mantrana (C.T.E.) and Ivory Williams (Science) were in attendance. Honestly, we did not know what to expect. However, they say “If you build it, they will come.” Our community stakeholders definitely showed up and more importantly, they genuinely want to help be a part of the change that we are trying to effect. In fact, as a result of our newly formed collaboration with Rutgers, RU has agreed to host the next event at the college on Thursday, May 17th.

Full Roster of Attendees:

  • Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation
  • Barringer High School Alumni Association
  • Bloomfield College
  • BRICKS for Kidz
  • BSD Coding
  • Center for Excellence for Latino Health Clara Maass Medical Center
  • Generation Ready
  • Greater Newark Conservancy
  • MARS Wrigley
  • Mubadala Investment Company
  • New Jersey Innovation Institute
  • Newark Public Schools Art Department
  • Newark Public Schools C.T.E. Department
  • Newark STEAM Coalition
  • Newark Public Schools Math Department
  • Newark Public Schools Science Department
  • Newark Museum
  • NYC Department of Education
  • Rutgers Medical School
  • RWJ Hospital
  • Schools that Can Newark
  • Solar One
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