In February 2021, the Murphy Administration (Administration) announced The Road Forward, a series of coordinated PK-12 education policy initiatives to identify and address the academic and mental health impacts of COVID-19 on New Jersey students, educators, and school districts. With summer here and school communities closing out an unprecedented school year, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is expanding upon The Road Forward by adding to that compendium of resources a detailed, actionable self-assessment guide for planning for fulltime, in-person instruction in fall 2021.

Governor Murphy has made clear that schools will provide full-day, in-person instruction and operations for the 2021-2022 school year. To support that effort, the NJDOE and New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) have issued additional health and safety guidance for the 2021-2022 school year to ensure that the return to pre-pandemic school operations does not come at the expense of our public health. 

The Road Forward: Reopening Self-Assessment is designed to assist LEAs in planning the 2021-2022 school year. Using this tool as a guideline will help LEAs access information, implement tools and resources, and determine areas where targeted technical assistance will support the return to full in-person learning. 

The NJDOE would like to thank education stakeholders across the state for contributing to the content of this document, as well as for their ongoing collaboration in The Road Forward.  Recognizing the importance of broad stakeholder input, the NJDOE encourages LEAs to reconvene school community members through various stages of planning for the full return to in-person instruction in the fall. 

NJDOE remains committed to providing the support necessary for the safe reopening of schools for the 2021-2022 school year.