Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Each year, the New Jersey Department of Education nominates public schools that meet the eligibility requirements provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Nominated schools are then invited to apply by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Distinguished Schools Program is sponsored by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators. Only two (2) schools per state are selected each year as National ESEA Distinguished Schools, making this award an especially prestigious honor.

The New Jersey Department of Education, along with partners, conceived of the Promising Practices Project to explore innovative practices that positively impacted student performance during the pandemic years. The schools identified as positive outliers are understood to have developed unique, replicable and innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

The New Jersey Purple Star Schools Program in the Department of Education annually recognizes schools that provide for, or have made significant progress to respond to, the educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected students encounter during the transition to a new school when the student’s parent or guardian is an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces and is relocated due to the active duty member’s continued military service.