Press Releases

Superintendent Christopher Cerf Condemns Rollback of DACA Program

[Newark, NJ - September 5, 2017] Newark Public Schools (NPS) Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf responded on Tuesday to news that the federal government was dissolving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“I am extremely disappointed by the administration’s decision to roll-back the DACA program unless Congress acts,” said Superintendent Cerf. “This action has the potential to cruelly upend the lives of 800,000 people, including some of our own students and colleagues. I appeal to the United States Congress to, in President Lincoln’s words, listen to the ‘better angels of our nature.’ These individuals did not choose to be here. That choice was made for them, but the United States is now their home and they are no more or less American than the rest of us. Uprooting them at this stage of their young lives would be inconsistent with our nation’s values and history. I implore the Congress to replace partisanship with compassion and to do what is right for hundreds of thousands of innocent young people.”

This past spring, Superintendent Cerf shared a letter assuring all undocumented families that their right to education in Newark would not be affected by recent political events. The letter was distributed to all NPS families and all information remains true today. A few of the topics the letter addresses include:

  • Undocumented immigrant status does not affect a child’s right to attend a public school in Newark. Children have a constitutional right to have equal access to education regardless of their immigration status or their parents’ status.
  • Newark Public Schools, like all districts in NJ, does not ask for a child’s immigration status when he or she enrolls.

Superintendent Cerf also signed a petition earlier this year to express his support for the continuation of the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs.

“Most importantly, I want all of our undocumented families in Newark to know that their children are welcome in our schools and that we continue to stand with them,” added Cerf. “I applaud Mayor Baraka for his strong stance on this issue and urge fellow school district and city leaders to speak out as well. Let’s work together on behalf of the many current and potential DACA beneficiaries in our schools to push Congress to act swiftly to sustain the DACA program.”

The district began hosting “Know Your Rights” workshops in December 2016 in partnership with city leaders and staff from UndocuJersey, Faith in NJ, and local immigration attorneys. Each workshop is designed to help educate Newark families about their immigration rights, ranging from providing information about how new policies affect Newark families to connecting undocumented students and families with resources and services that will help them navigate their higher education options. A majority of workshops arze conducted in Spanish, while English speakers are equipped with interpretation devices. The district will continue to hold this series of workshops throughout the fall of 2017 and into 2018. The next workshop is October 7th.

For more resources on the topic, Newark Public Schools families can access: newark.apppresser.com/info/immigration-resources

Newark Public Schools Open for the 2017-18 School Year

Superintendent Cerf and Mayor Baraka share plans to build on recent progress and work with community members to move Newark schools forward

 

[Newark, NJ — September 5, 2017] – Superintendent of Newark Public Schools Christopher D. Cerf, Mayor Ras J. Baraka, and other Newark leaders officially opened the 2017-18 school year at Technology High School. Technology is one of Newark’s highest performing schools, where academic gains in recent years have outpaced statewide averages, serving as one example of the academic progress the District looks to build on in the upcoming school year. The Superintendent and Mayor cited this academic improvement, as well as increased community partnership and collaboration, as core examples of why the city is prepared to assume local control of district schools.

“We are excited to kick off another successful year for Newark students, and to build on recent progress,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools (NPS). “Thanks to the hard work of our school leaders, educators, and community members, Newark’s schools are as prepared as they have ever been to serve the students walking through their doors this morning.”

The district opens schools this year during a fall season that many in Newark hope will result in the return of full local control to the Newark Public School district. State control is determined using an evaluative process called QSAC (Quality Single Accountability Continuum), which rates districts across five domains. Newark has already regained control of 3 of the 5 domains, and was provided with updated scores in the remaining two areas (Governance and Instruction and Program) this July. These exemplary results are anticipated to pave the way for full local control later this fall.

“The return to local control of Newark schools, combined with the good news about academic achievement, makes this a first day of school that parents, students, teachers and our entire community can celebrate,” said Mayor Ras J. Baraka.

A major contributor to the District’s readiness for local control can be found in its improvement in academics.

  • Preliminary 16-17 PARCC results show that Newark Public Schools students once again made significant gains in both ELA and Math, with NPS’s growth exceeding the state in both subjects.
  • NPS has improved on the state student growth measure (SGP), with students growing in reading faster than their peers across the state in 15-16 (most recent data available).

Newark has also seen consistent improvement in graduation rates.

  • 73.5% of students graduated in the 15-16 year, and this figure is expected to rise to around 77% for the 2016-17 school year when data is finalized by the state later this fall. This number was at 54% when the state took over in the 1995, and had only moved to about 60% as recently as 2011 (an independent audit put the figure at 57%).
  • The 2016-17 graduating class also saw more Newark students matriculating to the country’s most competitive colleges than previous years, with students receiving full scholarships to places like Harvard, Princeton, Rutgers, and other elite schools.

Many other studies and research have reinforced the progress being made in Newark.

  • According to a study by the Center for Reinventing Public Education, Newark parents have access to a higher percentage of schools that “Beat the Odds” than in any urban school district in the country.
  • When measured against comparable districts over the last 5 years, Newark’s proficiency has gone from the 41st percentile to the 75th in Math, and from the 44th to the 78th in English.
  • An analysis shows that twice as many African American children are attending schools that beat the state average compared with 2011.
  • A study by the American Institute for Research showed that Newark is also retaining more of its best teachers, more than 95% of those who are most effective, while retaining just 63% of its least effective.

“The progress you see is a tribute to the great educators and school leaders we have here in Newark, and the many students in our community who are taking advantage of the opportunities provided” added Robert Gregory, Deputy Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. “Having worked in this district for 20 years, I’m excited to build on the recent improvements Newark has made during this school year and for many years to come.”

The district has been working diligently over the summer to prepare for a successful school opening. Principals and select members of school leadership teams participated in the Principal Leadership Institute (PLI) throughout August. As a result of getting PARCC results earlier than ever before, NPS was able to share this data with them at this training, in advance of the school year for the first time, and use it to identify specific areas for improvement.

In addition, professional development was also held for all Newark teachers. Those who work for schools on an extended school year schedule (approximately 50% of educators) were in sessions from August 21 through 25, while all other educators reported back to school on August 28 for professional development throughout the week before school. This was the first time all educators in Newark have ever had a full week to prepare for the school year, due to a provision in the newly renegotiated teacher’s contract.

Lastly, the district assembled its Successful School Opening Team for the sixth straight year to ensure that schools are staffed, facilities are ready, and all schedules are prepared for students on day one. A few highlights of this work include:

  • Schools are staffed at higher levels on the first day than at any time in recent history, with approximately 99% of positions hired.
  • Nearly $5 million in major facilities projects and revitalization work has been undertaken throughout the summer including on-going lead remediation that will place water back online.

“We are excited about the 2017 – 2018 school year,” added school board chair Marques Aquil Lewis. “We are ready for our teachers to start shaping the minds of our students, and ready for our students to get back to learning in our classrooms so that together we can build a better future for our children and community.”

NPS Connects More Than 6,000 Students to Academic Enrichment Programs and Field Trips throughout the Summer

Students Participate in Programs in New Jersey, Massachusetts and China

Students at NPS Summer Plus Programs show off completed enrichment projects and work to finish others.

 

[NEWARK, NJ – August 24, 2017] – More than 6,000 Newark students participated in academic enrichment programs hosted by the Newark Public Schools this summer. In addition, the district worked with partner organizations to ensure students gained access to distinct opportunities outside of their schools, including a study abroad program in China; a summer fellows program at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts; a scholarship STEM program at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, and many other programs throughout New Jersey.

“This has been an extraordinary summer of engagement for Newark Public Schools students,” said Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf of NPS. “Not only has our Extended Learning Time and Summer Plus staff once again directed free, high quality programming for students to take advantage of throughout the city, our students also gained access to study-abroad and out-of-state programs that will have a lasting impact on their futures.”

NPS Academic Enrichment Programs

Students at NPS Summer Plus Programs show off completed enrichment projects and work to finish others.
Students at NPS Summer Plus Programs show off completed enrichment projects and work to finish others.

Newark Public Schools (NPS) and the Office of Expanded Learning Time’s (ELT) Summer Plus and summer learning programs built on previous years to offer an expanded range of programming directly to Newark children. Over 3,000 students participated in the district’s core academic enrichment program for K-8 Students, Summer Plus, which ran from July 10th to August 4th. This year the program included a component called English Plus, a program for English language learners, as well as a program focused specifically on improving literacy skills for rising 2nd grade students reading below grade level.

In addition, NPS offered classes for high school students at Central and Science Park High Schools that provided students with an opportunity to make up credits and take courses for enrichment. There was also a program called ‘Summer Chill’ available to high school students from 3-6pm each day to participate in a range of skill development and varying activities including science, television production, film, dance, mural design and a number of field trips.

“It was very important for us to expand the offerings we provided this summer for every age group and to create a myriad of programs that were fun, engaging and educational,” noted Sarah Cruz, Executive Direct of Expanded Learning Time at NPS. “Our goal is to make sure that all Newark children know that they can continue to learn and grow during the summer months.”

Scholarship Opportunities Outside of Newark

Students also took advantage of opportunities to learn and grow outside of Newark. Two Science Park High School students; senior Abdul-Basit Ajeigbe and 2017 graduate Ruby Chen were selected by United States Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Newark Public Schools and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) to participate in a highly competitive program abroad. The students were recipients of the 2017 Booker Scholar Award, named in honor of Senator Booker, which provided full scholarships for the program. Both students were selected based on academic merit and eagerness to learn how to navigate a new language, connect with people from different cultures and impact global issues.

Three students from Arts High School; clarinet player Shamar McPherson; bass player Joel Sanchez and saxophonist Jalin Shiver, attended a Five Week Summer Performance Program at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. The Arts High students joined students from 70 countries participating in the summer fellows program, which included studies in a number of musical focus areas, opportunities to work with visiting artists and perform concerts for their peers in state of the art facilities.

NPS also partnered with the Stevens Institute of Technology and PSEG to provide full scholarships to 15 students who were admitted to the Stevens Institute for Technology’s competitive Pre-College Summer Programs. The summer programs at Stevens span unique subjects such as computer science, pre-medical science, game design and entrepreneurship, and engage students in hands-on projects with Stevens’ industry expert faculty.

Enrichment Programs Provided by Newark Partner Organizations

Many other Newark programs brought students experiences that expanded learning far beyond classroom walls. The summer’s 21st Century Program, geared for middle schools, focused on college and career readiness and included field trips to seven college campuses, including Columbia University in New York. More than 500 students participated in the Explore Newark, initiative, sponsored in part by the Victoria Foundation, that brought students in contact with Newark artists and sites all around Newark that helped them learn about the city.

“One of our goals is to engage Newark school children in a way that raises their level of excitement around community and education, while also improving educational outcomes,” said Irene Cooper-Basch, Executive Officer of the Victoria Foundation. “Our partnership with NPS allows us to fulfill our mission while also empowering young people to be their very best as students and later as productive and engaged adults.”

Lastly, hundreds of students participate each year in Pre-College programs at local universities NJIT and Rutgers-Newark, and in programs sponsored by local institutions like the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, where students participate in the Alvin Ailey Dance Program.

Superintendent Cerf concluded, “We want to thank all of our partners for the great work they do for Newark students. With all of these programs, Newark is a happening place to be in the summertime.”

6,000 Newark Kids Participate in NPS Summer Programs

Local Teacher Completes National Food Safety and Nutrition Training

From Farm to Table, Teachers Explore the Science Behind Nation’s Food Supply

Henie Parillon
Henie Parillon

[WASHINGTON, DC. August, 2017] Henie Parillon, a teacher at Abington Avenue School in Newark, NJ was one of 30 teachers nationwide chosen to complete a food science training program developed and implemented in a partnership between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and Graduate School USA. The one-week program for middle and high school science teachers, as well as family and consumer science and health education teachers, took place in Washington this summer.

Mr. Parillon said, “This FDA/NSTA Food Science Professional Development Program is one of the most informative and inspiring I have attended in a very long while. It exposed me to the efforts of federal and national agencies in helping keep the nation’s food supply save and provided me with the tools to further engage students and fellow educators on the topic of microbiology and food safety. I enthusiastically look forward to imparting the knowledge I have obtained with stakeholders in the Newark Public Schools (NPS) District.”

The training is part of the FDA/NSTA Professional Development Program in Food Science, a sustained effort to train U.S. teachers to use FDA’s curriculum in their classrooms nationwide and train additional teachers in their area of the country. The goal of the program is to educate teachers and students about critical food safety issues such as foodborne illnesses by exploring the science behind them. The program arms teachers with a unique topic and curriculum with which to teach science. In addition, participants learn about nutrition, food allergies, cosmetics safety, and color additives from FDA experts. The teachers also receive nutrition education material to help teach their students how to use the Nutrition Facts label to make better food choices.

“Many teenage students have jobs in the food service industry or have food preparation responsibilities at home,” said Louise Dickerson, FDA’s Project Manager for the Professional Development Program in Food Science. “This program will better educate them about the importance of handling food safely and why precautions must be taken. From FDA’s perspective, our professional development program for teachers is an effective way to support our goal of reducing the incidence of foodborne illness in this country.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 6 Americans get sick from food poisoning each year.

During the training, teacher participants learned firsthand about the development and spread of foodborne illnesses; the vulnerability of at-risk populations; and the science behind safe food handling, storage, and preparation. These teachers also learned how to better use the Nutrition Facts label to assess the nutritional value of foods. In addition, the teachers talked with scientists from FDA and conducted laboratory experiments at the University of Maryland at College Park to further increase their understanding of food science.

For example, teachers investigated how a single bacteria cell can multiply to millions in just a few hours, and they observed how different temperatures (heating, room temperature, chilling, and freezing) affect the growth of bacteria. The teachers explored these concepts by putting their culinary skills to the test. After cooking hamburgers to various temperatures, the teachers tested them for bacteria and other organisms that cause disease.

“Though the teachers have completed the training, the professional development experience has not ended,” said Al Byers, Associate Executive Director of Strategic Development & Research at NSTA. “They will implement the curriculum in their schools, conduct workshops for their teacher colleagues, and receive continuing online support beyond the onsite experience. This program models sustained teacher support espoused in the latest standards in science professional learning whereby teachers may collaborate locally with other colleagues as part of an ongoing professional learning community.”

The food science program is centered on a standards-based curriculum developed by FDA in partnership with NSTA. The Science and Our Food Supply curriculum is available at no charge to all middle-level and high school teachers; it explores the science behind the production, transportation, storage, and preparation of our nation’s food supply, and contains a video, hands-on experiments and activities, and evaluation tools. Other parts of the curriculum explore little-known facts about food science that affect millions of people every day, such as how a traceback investigation is used to stop the additional sale and distribution of contaminated food, the likelihood of certain foods to cause foodborne illness more than others, and reasons why salt serves as a good preservative.

For information on this exciting curriculum and information on how to apply to participate in the FDA Food Science Professional Development Program in Summer 2018, please email: isabelle.howes@nullgraduateschool.edu.

Family Support Center Opens to Help Families Prepare for 2017-18 School Year

Since the center re-opened on July 10, the district has seen a substantial drop in families requesting support and a smoother process

[NEWARK, NJ — July 28, 2017] — Newark Public Schools (NPS) opened the Family Support Center on July 10 to assist families who are still looking for a school placement for the 2017-18 school year. The district reports a significant drop in those visiting the family support center during the opening weeks this year, as well as a smoother process and shorter wait times for those families who visit for enrollment support.

District officials attribute the decline in numbers to some important process improvements made this year that have allowed families to find the school of their choice earlier in the process and to enroll directly from their home or chosen school. Last year in the first two weeks the center was open, over 1,856 individuals visited the site for support, while this year just 883 have visited- 48 percent of whom are new to the district.

“We are committed to providing high quality customer service to make sure parents have everything they need to identify and enroll in the school that is the best fit for their child,” said Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf of NPS. “In order to do this, we’ve gathered feedback from school board and community members, and worked to continuously improve the system to meet the needs of parents and families. Our hope is that this improvement allows us to collectively focus on what’s most important during this time– that all children in Newark are prepared and ready to learn on their first day of school.”

In collaboration with the Newark School Board and community members, NPS made changes to key enrollment processes this year to continue to improve the experience for families. First, due to better data and systems in the enrollment process this year, the district was able to eliminate a cumbersome appeals process. This allowed NPS to re-open the enrollment window on May 8th for all families who missed the application period, which is earlier than ever before (last year we opened enrollment in mid-July).

In parallel to this, the district created the Family Enrollment Portal, an online portal that allows families to directly select their school online or to change their school if their match no longer meets their needs. To date, 700 families have used the Family Enrollment Portal to choose a new school for their child or to change their school placement, and others have added their children to waitlists for magnet high schools, charter schools and Pre-Kindergarten in district schools.

“We welcome all families to utilize the Family Support Center whenever they have questions or need support,” noted Gabrielle Ramos-Solomon, Executive Director of Enrollment at NPS. “However, we also received feedback that families wanted to be able to have their needs met at home or a nearby school. The drop in the number of families visiting the Family Support Center so far this summer is a strong indication that the online resources and expanded enrollment timeline we provided this year are helping Newark families find the school of their choice sooner and more conveniently,” Ramos-Solomon continued. “This not only makes life easier for those families, but also allows district officials to cut down wait times for parents on-site, and spend more time supporting those who have unique needs or circumstances that need our attention the most.”

In addition to making these changes to the enrollment process, the district changed the enrollment policy to further prioritize neighborhood preferences to ensure that those who want to attend a school near their home can do so. This policy change led to improved outcomes for families during the application and match period, which also helps cut down on the number of appeals and the amount of follow-up support needed. Information about the results of the match process can be viewed here.

“The Family Support Center (FSC) has done a great job in helping me match my kids to schools. I want what is best for my kids and I found that through visiting the FSC,” said Ms. Clara Feaster. She continued, “After speaking with Ms. Carrion at the FSC and talking with the staff at West Side High School, my son became excited about West Side. I really appreciate what they are doing at West Side to help students, I know it will be a good place for my son.” Ms. Feaster’s son Amari is playing football at West Side High School. His photograph also appears on the outside of the building as part of a mural arts project that was installed this spring.

The Family Support Center is open in July Monday through Thursday from 9am – 3pm, and will host extended hours in August closer to the start of the school year. In addition, to better serve working families, the Family Support Center is open one Saturday a month, from 9am – 12pm. For more information about the Family Support Center’s hours of operation and the timeline visit the Newark Public Schools website at https://newark.apppresser.com/.

West Side High School Expands Nighttime Summer Recreation Program with Goal to Keep Young People Engaged in Positive Activities at Night

Nearly 300 students turn out for The “Lights On” program with Expanded Programs for Girls

[Newark, NJ — July 25, 2017] – Nearly 300 Newark youth turned out for the “Lights On” program, a free nighttime recreational program open to children across Newark, this past Friday. In its second year, the program offers more recreational activities for girls and teens. “Lights On” kicked off its summer schedule on Friday, June 30 at West Side High School (WSHS) in Newark and this past Friday featured a disc jockey and ice cream truck, in addition to the regular “Lights On” programming. The program provides Newark youth with access to a wide-range of engaging activities such as basketball, table tennis, cooking, dancing, and more.

WSHS Vice Principal and program director Akbar Cook, with the support of the West Side Alumni Group and the MCJ Amelior Foundation, started the “Lights On” program in 2016, serving approximately 80 students per night throughout the summer. On the final night of last summer’s program, Mr. Cook lost another female student to gun violence. The student’s death inspired Mr. Cook to give more students access to positive afterschool activities like “Lights On.” Mr. Cook decided to broaden the appeal of the program to young women across the city by offering more recreational activities such as jewelry making and makeup classes.

“Thanks to the continued investment of Vice Principal Cook, the West Side Alumni Group, and the MCJ Amelior Foundation, students and families across our city are able to come together throughout the summer and enjoy a multitude of fun-filled activities at the ‘Lights On’ program,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools (NPS). “Programs like ‘Lights On’ create a strong future for Newark by serving the needs of all students and families, as well as ensuring all children have access to positive opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom.”

“‘Lights On’ is thrilled to open up new and exciting opportunities for more young women across our city this year,” said Mr. Cook. “We want to do more for our young women across Newark to ensure they have a variety of engaging activities and are able to enjoy their summer vacation in a nurturing, fun and safe environment.”

“Lights On” is open at West Side High School throughout the school year every Friday evening for both children and adults. Throughout the summer, the program runs from 6:00pm-11:00pm, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night. The program also provides participants with free food and beverages every night.

A student of the program said, “The ‘Lights On’ program helps me build confidence and it’s a safe and welcoming place for me to go. I hope more kids will come and a part of something positive.”

Mr. Cook, who manages school operations related to disciplinary procedures, school climate and culture, and security at WSHS, is leading a number of initiatives at WSHS and across the district. He is the head coach of the WSHS varsity boys’ basketball team, which won the 2017 Group 2 NJSIAA championships. Mr. Cook also partnered with the Community Food Bank of NJ to provide food packs every Friday night to students and families in need on weekends. Mr. Cook is also working to build a laundromat and study hall at WSHS to increase student attendance and support student achievement because many students do not attend school regularly because they do not have clean clothes. Earlier this year, Cook was selected as a finalist for Prudential’s “Newark’s Cornerstones” competition, a contest which showcases leaders across Newark for their dedication in making a positive impact on Newark’s future.

For additional information about “Lights On,” watch the program’s commercials from 2016 and 2017.