The New Jersey Department of Education's Office of Academic and Professional Standards was awarded a three-year grant in 2002 in order to support three strands of standards and teacher professional development. The grant funds a comprehensive and systemic plan to improve teacher education and induction. A performance-based system of standards with appropriate performance assessments for students is being developed for teachers, administrators and higher education programs. The goal is to align all programs so that they work together in order to have the maximum impact on student achievement. The strands are: