Official Site of The State of New Jersey
NJSLEDS Soft Launch
Practice Window: July 7–31, 2025
Overview
The NJSLEDS Soft Launch is a statewide testing window open to all New Jersey public school districts from July 7 through July 31, 2025. During this time, districts and vendors are invited to access the NJSLEDS platform, upload test files, and become familiar with the system before the official September 2 statewide launch.
This is a sandbox environment. Submissions will not be used for official reporting. Additionally, there is no requirement to resolve all errors. In fact, errors are expected and will not be recorded.
The goal of the soft launch is to help districts build confidence with NJSLEDS through hands-on practice and support.
What Districts Can Do
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Upload & Test Your Files Submit practice .CSV UTF-8 files for any available submission (e.g. Student Management, Staff Vacancy). See your submission templates for guidance. |
Review Validation & Errors Explore how the system flags data issues—errors won’t count against you, but knowing their meaning will prepare you for September. |
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Download Submission Guides Grab handbooks, sample files, and step-by-step walkthroughs on the User Resources page. |
Join Live Office Hours Drop in for real-time support—no appointment needed. See the Office Hours schedule. |
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Attend & Revisit Webinars Register for “Introduction to NJSLEDS” or watch recordings (PDF & video) to see the system in action. |
Submit Feedback & Questions Email or call the Help Desk to report issues or ask for clarification—your feedback drives improvements. |
Submissions Available for Testing
Below is a quick reference for each submission type, including the recommended data to use, and where to find detailed resources, trainings, and FAQs.
| Submission | Data to Use | Resources | Trainings and Webinars | FAQs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Management (01) | 2024–2025 End of Year | View Resources | View Training | View FAQs |
| Staff Management (02) | 2024–2025 End of Year | View Resources | View Training | Coming Soon |
| Special Education (03) | Fall 2024 Snapshot | View Resources | View Training | Coming Soon |
| State Assessment Registration (04) | 2024–2025 End of Year | View Resources | View Training | Coming Soon |
| Performance Report (05) | 2024–2025 End of Year | View Resources | View Training | Coming Soon |
| Staff Vacancy (09) NEW | 2024–2025 End of Year | View Resources | View Training | View FAQs |
New Submission: Staff Vacancy
The Staff Vacancy (ID 09) submission captures information on unfilled positions, fulfilling legislative requirements under N.J.S.A. 18A:27-3.5 – 3.7.
Districts may need to work with HR systems or vendors to generate this file. Guidance is available on the Staff Vacancy User Resources page.
State Assessment Registration (SAR) Submission Testing
During the soft launch, districts may also test SAR uploads.
SAR files must align with existing Student Management and Staff Management data. Before uploading SAR records, confirm that your student and staff data are loaded and error-free in NJSLEDS. SAR submissions will not process correctly if prerequesite data is missing.
Visit the NJSLEDS User Resources page for templates, submission handbooks, and full validation rules.
Soft Launch Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the purpose of the NJSLEDS soft launch?
The NJSLEDS soft launch, running from July 7 through July 31, 2025, is a statewide preview window for all New Jersey public school districts. This testing period gives districts an opportunity to:
- Practice uploading real but unofficial data
- Explore system behavior, workflows, and error messages
- Identify local process adjustments ahead of the official launch.
This is not a continuation of the pilot phase. Even if your district did not participate in earlier pilots, you are encouraged to log in, test submissions, and share feedback. All soft launch submissions are non-binding and will be wiped before the system goes live on September 2, 2025.
Q: What is the difference between the soft launch environment and the live system?
The soft launch environment is a sandbox version of NJSLEDS. It allows you to test real data, submission templates, and workflows in a risk-free setting.
Key differences include:
- Soft Launch (July): Practice only. Errors are expected. Nothing is used for compliance or public reporting. Uses 2024-2025 test data.
- Live System (Starting Sept. 2, 2025): Official statewide reporting begins. Data submitted will be used for monitoring, accountability, and public reporting.
Important: Do not update your SIS or NJ SMART based on soft launch results. All data submitted in July will be deleted before go-live.
Q: Is NJSLEDS replacing NJ SMART?
Yes. NJSLEDS will fully replace NJ SMART as the state's official education data reporting system. Key transition details:
- Final NJ SMART submissions end on August 29, 2025
- NJSLEDS becomes official on September 2, 2025
NJSLEDS offers a modern, cloud-based platform with stronger data governance and improved workflows. While the file layouts remain familiar, the infrastructure is entirely new.
Q: How do I know if my district is included in the soft launch?
All New Jersey public school districts are included in the NJSLEDS soft launch, regardless of prior pilot participation.
If you were designated as a NJSLEDS user (also called a Point of Contact or POC), you will receive login instructions the week of June 24, 2025, with credentials sent by July 7, 2025.
To verify if you are listed as a user, contact your district's Web User Administrator (WUA) or view the most recent POC list.
Q: When will I receive my log in credentials for the soft launch?
Login credentials for the soft launch will begin going out on July 7, 2025 to designated NJSLEDS users (POCs) only.
If you don't receive your welcome email by the end of the day on July 8, 2025:
- Check your spam or junk folder (search for "noreply@salesforce.com on behalf of SLEDS")
- Confirm with your WUA that you were offiically submitted as a user
- Contact the Help Desk: helpdesk-sleds-staging@doe.nj.gov or 609-376-3970.
Please note: Superintendents and Web User Administrators (WUAs) do not automatically receive credentials unless designated as a POC.
Q: Do submissions need to be error-free during the soft launch? Will errors affect our district?
No. Submissions during the soft launch do not need to be error-free, and errors will not affect your district in any way.
This is a learning and testing period. You are encouraged to:
- Upload data even if it contains errors
- Practice resolving those errors using the submission templates
- Report anything unclear to the Help Desk
Errors are not monitored for compliance and will not impact QSAC, accountability, or public reporting. Your feedback helps refine validation rules and system guidance ahead of the September launch.
Support During the Soft Launch
Help Desk
Email: helpdesk-sleds-staging@doe.nj.gov
Phone: 609-376-3970
Live Office Hours
Drop in for real-time support—no registration needed.
View Office Hours Schedule
User Resources
Handbooks, templates, FAQs, and more.
Visit the User Resources page
