Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Resources
The reauthorization of ESEA in December 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) expanded and clarified how federal funds received under the law may be used. As the NJDOE plans to implement ESSA in New Jersey, it is committed to helping school districts use their federal funds for the programs and services students need most.
NJDOE ESSA-Specific Resources
- Local Stakeholder Engagement Guidance: Provides district and school leaders with a guide for ways to engage local stakeholders to address the needs of students in an ongoing and meaningful way, particularly as it relates to the requirements under ESSA. Information provided in this guide is designed to align to the Annual School Planning process required for most New Jersey schools. Consultation with stakeholders is also required under ESSA whenever a local education agency receives federal funding.
- The Maximizing Federal Funds website provides educators and school district leaders, Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), grant administrators, educators, and other stakeholders with information about how different Federal funds may be used to meet their specific, identified needs. Once these needs are identified, the resources’ information, examples, and sample scenarios can provide ideas and inspiration about how to best use ESSER money and how to pair it with more sustainable Federal funding streams to have the most positive and lasting impacts on students and schools.
- Unlocking Your Federal Funds: Describes district funding flexibilities under ESSA and provides specific examples of how federal funds can be used independently or combined with other funding sources to support specific initiatives such as reducing rates of chronic absenteeism, improving Algebra I outcomes and grade-level literacy, implementing the NJ Tired System of Supports (NJTSS), improving school climate, and improving access to job-embedded professional development.
- School District ESSA Planning Template (PDF | Word)
NJDOE ESSA Technical Assistance
The NJDOE is committed to providing technical assistance to school districts to help them understand the funds they receive as well as the requirements under ESSA.
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers
- Educational Stability for Students in Foster Care
- Grants (including allocations tables, nonpublic consultation guidance, and more)
- Homeless Education
- NJDOE School Performance Reports
- New Jersey Department of Education School Improvement Plan
- Title I Part A – Improving Basic Programs
- Title III – Improving English Language Acquisition and Academic Achievement of English Learners and Immigrant Students
Programs, activities, and strategies paid for with ESSA funds must be, to some extent, evidence-based. This means that there needs to be reasonable evidence to suggest that a particular program, activity, or strategy could be successful in meeting a particular student need.
Evidence-Based Resources
- Evidence for ESSA: A Repository of Evidence-Based Programs, Activities and Strategies to Address Student Needs
- U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences (IES): What Works Clearing House
- U.S. Department of Education: Guidance on Using Evidence to Strengthen Investments in Student Supports and Intervention
Organizations around the country have created guidance materials to help school districts and states understand how different federal funding sources can be used to fund identified student needs. This page provides links to some of those resources.
DISCLAIMER: These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the New Jersey Department of Education of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The New Jersey Department of Education bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content. If you have questions about an allowable use of federal funds, please consult the law and/or contact the appropriate office.
Academic Support and Enrichment
- Afterschool Alliance: Expanded Before and Afterschool Programs Under ESSA
- Evidence for ESSA: A Repository of Evidence-Based Programs, Activities and Strategies to Address Student Needs
Non-academic Supports and Services
District Stakeholder Engagement