N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:13-2.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024
Section 6A:13-2.2 - Secondary education initiatives
(a) The secondary education initiatives in this section shall apply to all secondary school districts, which shall be defined as school districts that include students in at least two of the grades from six through 12. Where applicable, secondary school districts shall collaborate with sending and receiving districts to implement the secondary education initiatives in this section.
(b) All secondary school districts shall develop a plan in 2008-2009 for implementing the secondary education initiatives specified in (c) through (e) below by the 2009-2010 school year, except that secondary school districts previously subject to N.J.A.C. 6A:10 and 6A:10A shall immediately comply with the secondary education initiatives specified in this section.
(c) Secondary school districts shall have a school-level planning team to guide the development and implementation of the secondary education reforms described in this section. A representative group of teachers and administrators shall determine team membership and operating procedures.
(d) Secondary school districts shall provide instructional services, professional development and other support to assist secondary schools with the implementation of the secondary education initiatives specified in this section.
(e) Secondary school districts shall create personalized learning environments that strengthen relationships among students, teachers, staff members, families and the larger community for students in grades six through 12. These may include:
1. Small learning communities in free-standing facilities or within larger facilities;
2. Ninth grade academies where freshman students remain together and are provided with a supportive environment to enhance their successful transition to high school;
3. Student support systems where students are assigned an adult mentor or team of adults who know(s) them and can support student efforts in achieving goals and solving problems;
4. Academies with a career focus;
5. Multi-grade academies where students at various grade levels may remain with a core group of teachers for multiple years in an academy-type format which may be organized around a particular theme and involve interdisciplinary teaming; or
6. Other practices for personalizing learning environments that strengthen relationships among students, teachers, staff members, families and the larger community.
(f) All secondary school districts shall implement academic coursework aligned to 6A:8-5.1 that prepares all students for success in postsecondary education and/or careers after graduation, including the development of academic skills integral to success in rigorous high school courses. Beginning in 2008-2009, all students entering grade nine shall complete by the end of their high school education, at a minimum, coursework in language arts literacy, mathematics and science. These shall include college level preparatory English I, II, III and IV, Algebra I, Lab Biology or the equivalent content taught in an integrated or career-based format, and other coursework as specified in N.J.A.C. 6A:8. All required courses shall:
1. Be developed, reviewed, evaluated and revised by a broad cross-section of teachers, content supervisors and principals;
2. Satisfy the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and indicators in each content area according to the graduation requirements in 6A:8-5.1; and
3. Be aligned to the district curriculum which identifies the purpose of instruction, including the essential content to be mastered in each course with interim benchmarks and assessments and final assessments.
(g) Secondary school districts that administer the high school State assessment and in which 10 percent or more of their students satisfy high school graduation requirements through the Special Review Assessment (SRA) shall submit to the Department of Education by November 15 of the subsequent school year, an analysis of all students who graduated by means of the SRA in the previous school year. The analysis shall include:
1. The names of high school courses and grades achieved for SRA students in language arts literacy, mathematics and science;
2. The attendance records for SRA students for each year of high school;
3. Review of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) and corresponding Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA)/New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge 8 (NJ ASK 8) scores attained by students;
4. Review of whether SRA students were taught by appropriately certified staff in English, mathematics and science in grades nine through 12; and
5. Development of a plan for increasing the proportion of students graduating by means of the State high school assessment based on data.
(h) The Commissioner shall continue to consult with an advisory committee composed of educators with experience and knowledge in secondary education to guide the implementation of secondary education reform.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:13-2.2

Administrative Change, 48 N.J.R. 1802(a).