Official Site of The State of New Jersey

2026 Summer Institute

We are pleased to invite all New Jersey educators to the 2026 Summer Institute. The institute will be held both in-person and virtually at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, from July 28 -30, 2026. Please confirm your registration as soon as possible, as space is limited for both daily commuters and residents on the Kean University campus. Registration will close on June 15, 2026. In-person attendance is limited to the first 175 confirmed registrants. Please open the link below to register.

Amistad Summer Institute 2026 Registration

Welcome to the New Jersey Amistad Commission.

We are honored to support New Jersey’s schoolteachers, administrators, and students with a comprehensive range of educational services and resources. Our mission is rooted in a steadfast commitment to equipping educators with the knowledge and tools needed to teach critical and often overlooked aspects of American history—including the African slave trade, the history of slavery in the United States, and the extraordinary contributions of Africans and African Americans who have profoundly shaped our nation.

This work is essential. By advancing an informed, inclusive, and accurate curriculum, we help ensure that the Black American experience is recognized not as a separate chapter, but as an inseparable and defining part of the broader American narrative.

The strength of the Commission lies in our ability to cultivate meaningful partnerships across a diverse network of educational agencies and organizations. Together, we work to fulfill the core principles of the Amistad Legislation: to embed the full, authentic story of African Americans across all curricular areas—not only history and social studies, but throughout the K–12 learning experience.

Collaboration remains central to our mission. By working closely with K–12 districts, as well as our esteemed colleges, universities, and community partners, we have the capacity to reach every school district in New Jersey and impact the 1.4 million students they serve. One of our long-term goals is to establish a national model that places diversity, equity, and inclusion at the heart of teaching social studies, world history, and related subjects. In doing so, we aim to strengthen New Jersey’s reputation as a leader in educational excellence and innovation.

While our journey is ambitious, we are inspired and encouraged by the exceptional educators who serve the students of our state. Their dedication, expertise, and belief in the power of education fuel our confidence that we will achieve our mission with enduring significance.

Together, we will continue to illuminate truth, expand understanding, and enrich the educational experience for all of New Jersey’s students.