Murphy Administration Announces Promising Practices Project to Accelerate Student Learning

The New Jersey Department of Education recently announced the participating schools involved in a research initiative to identify and spotlight innovative practices that New Jersey schools implemented to accelerate student learning.

The Promising Practices Project is a partnership with the New Jersey State Policy Lab and the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, which are both at Rutgers University. This initiative explores the best practices that dozens of successful school districts have used to improve learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rutgers researchers have identified a diverse array of 52 schools from 47 local educational agencies (school districts and charter schools) that have demonstrated exceptional growth in student performance when comparing pre- and post-pandemic performance in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The research team interviewed school leaders and educators from the 52 schools and are currently identifying the most successful strategies they implemented to help students overcome learning losses during the pandemic. The findings from the study will be presented in a formal report, with the goal of sharing the innovative learning approaches with schools throughout the state via presentations, resources, and convenings, so other educators can effectively replicate the successful programs and initiatives.

“Working together to identify classroom-tested strategies that address our children’s most pressing academic needs is paramount,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “Through the Promising Practices Project, we are pulling together invaluable first-hand feedback from educators across the state – from Sussex to Cape May – to support accelerated learning and ensure our students are on pace to meet their educational goals.”

“We hope that teachers statewide will be able to capitalize on the information in this initiative to provide students with innovative approaches tailored to their learning needs,” said Kevin Dehmer, acting education commissioner. “We know that students throughout the state have struggled to fully recover academically in the post-pandemic world, and we remain committed to ongoing efforts to support their growth.”

The research focuses on promising practices in curriculum, and may include other metrics such as school climate, summertime and after-school programs, and unique approaches to meet the needs of student populations. The Promising Practices Project is exploring how individual schools successfully served students’ unique needs. For more information about the project, please visit the Promising Practices webpage.

The state allocated $1 million for the research initiative at its onset in fiscal year 2023.

The Promising Practices Project – Identified Schools