New Jersey Department of Education
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The New Jersey Department of Education administers state and federal aid programs affecting more than 1.4 million public and non-public elementary and secondary school children in the state of New Jersey.
The Department is responsible for ensuring that local schools comply with state and federal laws and regulations. It also oversees pupil transportation services and directs education programs for adults and for persons who are handicapped, disadvantged or foreign-born.
The Department employs over 900 persons and had an appropriation of $59.2 million from the state budget in fiscal 2004-05. The budget provided for $25.5 million for education grants-in-aid and $8.9 billion for state aid to education. It also appropriated to educational institutions an anticipated $821.4 million in federal funds.
The Department's agencies include the State Board of Education, the School Ethics Commission and the State Board of Examiners. It is headed by the Commissioner of Education. On September 9, 2005 Lucille Davy was named the Acting Commissioner, effective September 12. [1] She became the Commissioner on October 16, 2006. [2]
The Department of Education publishes the New Jersey School Report Card as part of an effort to increase school- and district-level accountability for educational progress by providing relevant data to the public that can be used to monitor and measure the performance of schools. While the format and contents of the reports have changed over time, the New Jersey School Report Card has offered the public information about each and every New Jersey school since 1995 when the Legislature enacted the reporting requirement.
The Department administers assessment tests to public school students to monitor academic progress. The New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK) for students in gardes 3-7; the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA) for eighth grade; and the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) in eleventh grade.
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources
- Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual State of New Jersey 2005 (Skinder-Strauss Associates; Newark, New Jersey)
- 2004 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book (Rutgers University Center for Government Studies)
