New School Year In Newark Brings ‘Excitement, Hope’

NEWARK, NJ — The start of every school year brings about a sense of excitement and hope. And in the Newark Public School District – which isn’t far removed from a time when it was stuck under state control – 2023 is looking bright so far, administrators say.

Newark students returned for their first day of class this week, and according to an update from the board of education, the implementation of the district’s historic 10-year strategic plan is “yielding the intended results.”

New Jersey’s largest public school district spent more than two decades under the control of state authorities until 2018. Read More: Positive Vibes As Newark Schools Return To Local Control

Newark school administrators have since rolled out a long-range blueprint that will guide the district’s actions from 2020 to 2030. See it here.

That plan is working, administrators announced in a news release on Thursday:

“The start of every school year brings about a sense of excitement and hope, but the intentionality of the work in Newark is signaling a move toward ‘A Brand New Day.’ This is clearly evidenced by the increases in student enrollment, the district's response to the national teacher shortage, and progress on student achievement. Enrollment is at an all-time high, vacancies are at an all-time low, and student achievement is at unprecedented levels.”

There have been hurdles to overcome along the way. Only 19 percent of Newark’s third grade students passed a New Jersey reading exam last year, a problem that school and city officials say they’re working hard to fix. Read More: Newark Has Plan To Improve 'Alarming' Student Reading Scores

The district has also been responding to other challenges. For example, administrators said the city’s approved universal enrollment system, Newark Enrolls, has made it easier for families to find the appropriate school for their kids. Read More: Student Enrollment On Upswing Again In Newark Public Schools

Last year, responding to the nationwide teacher shortages that took place during the “Great Resignation,” the Newark school district announced that it was introducing a game-changer to help get educators back in classrooms: a $62,000 starting salary.

• See Related: Newark Tries To Attract New Teachers By Bumping Up Starting Salary

Meanwhile, the district’s veteran teachers continue to shine brightly, with a “one-of-a-kind” educator – Juanita Greene – recently earning a nod as “Teacher of the Year” for 2023.

• See Related: Newark's Teacher Of The Year Has 'Unwavering Devotion' (VIDEO)

The hard work of staff members continued through the summer, helping Newark to get a jump on a new school year. Administrators said the district expanded its summer offerings to students across the city in Newark. The elementary programs included a range of options including: Summer Plus (with a mandatory component in the elementary grades), K-Ready Kindergarten Bootcamp for rising Kindergarten children, English Plus for second language learners, Extended School Year provided 28 additional days of instruction and services for children with exceptionalities, Alvin Ailey Dance Camp, Summer STEM Academy, Summer Sports Camp, and Summer Visual & Performing Arts Academy.

There’s more, administrators added:

“This summer, high school students were presented with a choice of 19 programs held at 16 locations inclusive of district high schools, Seton Hall University, Misa Hylton Fashion Academy, Clara Maass Hospital, Montclair State University, NJIT, and locations in Minnesota. The Future Leaders Program was reinstated, employing high school students in central office departments, where they gained valuable work experience. This was the fourth summer of implementation of modules for credit recovery. The district began to implement this strategy during last school year as well, and its success, will also be implemented during this school year. This strategy is part of the At-Promise Initiative in the elementary grades, which is maximizing resources and services for students in their redefined alternative education program and helping them to unlock their full potential. At both the elementary and high school levels, students were tasked with a purposefully curated Summer Reading list, inclusive of thoughtful activities students will share with their teachers and classmates in the coming days and weeks.”

More than 8,000 staff members attended an annual convocation this year. The district starts the 2023-24 school year with the lowest number of vacancies in the past five years, as well as more than 600 new instructional and non-instructional hires.

“As we gather to celebrate our progress, we eagerly anticipate the challenges and triumphs of the future,” Superintendent Roger León said.

“A Brand New Day signifies the fresh perspectives and innovative approaches we bring to teaching and learning in Newark,” León said.

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