NJ: GRADUATION FOR ALL
Secondary Reform Campaign Principles

Graduation: Every New Jersey school must graduate all of its students. All New Jersey children must be provided with the necessary resources to make high school graduation a meaningful achievement.

Teacher’s Support: Middle and high school teachers need support to help students master rigorous courses and meet high standards. Professional development policies and practices must include capacity building so that teachers are supported and rewarded as they become increasingly effective educators and leaders. Communication between middle and high school teachers must be improved to ease student transition.

Parent and Community Engagement: Parents and community organizations must be meaningfully engaged in any successful education reform efforts. Meaningful engagement is evident at every stage including planning, implementation, assessment and evaluation. Parents and community members must be treated as welcomed partners by school administration and staffs.

Teacher Quality: Students in low performing schools need access to the very best teachers and resources. Concerted efforts must be made to recruit, train and retain teachers who are highly effective and culturally competent so that they can relate and respond to their students and the community in which they are teaching.

Small Learning Communities: Every child should be in a small learning community that fosters a relationship with a professional adult who helps him/her create a personalized learning plan and set goals for academic, career and citizenship success. Children should be given equal opportunities to pursue their interests and develop a love for learning.

Assessment: Every student should be given the opportunity to develop a portfolio of his/her best work. In addition, peer and one-on-ones teacher reviews should be included in graduation assessments.