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EDUCATION WEEK: New Jersey STATE POLICY REPORT CARD 2006
“Quality Counts” Report
NJ State Highlights (bold) Overall States’ Averag
Standards and
Accountability B B+
Efforts
to improve
teacher quality C+ B
School climate B- C+
Resource equity C C-
Overall grade C+ B-
New Jersey scores above average in three of the four graded
policy categories in Quality Counts and just below average in one.
The state does well in standards and accountability. In part, it
owes this strong showing to its academic standards, which have been
rated clear and specific in nearly all core subjects and grade spans by
the American Federation of Teachers. The exception is elementary
social studies. The state does not fare as well on indicators of school
accountability; it lacks policies to assist and sanction all lowperforming
schools.
In teacher quality, New Jersey also performs above average. It
earns full credit for its efforts related to the professional support and
training of teachers. The state is one of only 15 to require and finance
mentoring for new teachers. It also has an extensive set of measures
to hold schools and teacher education programs accountable for
teacher quality.
In school climate, the state again earns an above-average grade.
It fares particularly well on indicators related to class size and school
facilities. School report cards include information on class size or
pupil-teacher ratios. New Jersey also has a class-size-reduction
program.
Resource equity is the only category in which New Jersey falls
below average. For example, the state’s score on the coefficient-of variation
measure indicates a moderate degree of disparity in per pupil
funding levels across districts in the state.
