Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

Building Responsive Instruction through Data-Guided Evaluation (BRIDGE)

 

Division: Teaching and Learning

Office: Learning Equity and Academic Recovery (LEAR)  

View Published NGO Document (Microsoft Word)

 

Purpose: 

The Building Responsive Instruction through Data-Guided Evaluation (BRIDGE) grant supports the implementation of evidence-based data protocols to inform tier one literacy instruction in grades kindergarten through grade three (K-3), in alignment with State law. Through this grant opportunity, Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are encouraged to seek innovative ways to use data protocols to inform literacy instruction at the tier one level. Although this primary focus for data is to inform decisions around literacy for all students, there are other considerations that factor into a successful program:

  • Literacy instruction should be inclusive of all the components of sound and well-researched literacy instruction, including background, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning, literacy knowledge, phonological awareness, decoding and sight recognition for these lead to increased comprehension and fluency.
  • LEAs and schools should create a way to monitor progress toward literacy goals using assessment data, high quality instructional materials, curriculum, effective tier one instruction, and set goals that meet the needs of all students for these are all essential to the success of this grant.
  • LEA leaders should identify and create a Leadership Team that includes administrators, teachers and others who have access to data to make informed decisions around effective literacy goals for tier one instruction. The team should learn to use data protocols to evaluate data, create innovative practices that foster growth and implement well-researched high quality instructional materials. The team should have structures in place to reflect on goals and to make improvements to meet the needs of students during tier one instruction.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has established a twelve (12) month grant program. This limited-competitive grant program is open to New Jersey LEAs with 40 percent of their students receiving free or reduced lunch and 80 percent or more students who did not meet expectations on the 2023-2024 NJSLA-ELA Grade 3.

 

Based on the availability of FY25 state appropriations, this grant program will begin June 1, 2025, and will end on May 31, 2026.

 

Eligible Agencies: New Jersey LEAs with 40 percent of their students receiving free or reduced lunch and 80 percent or more students who did not meet expectations on the 2023-2024 NJSLA-ELA Grade 3.

Number of Award(s) Anticipated: 18

Total Amount Available: $1,473,560

Application Due Date: 5/30/2025