In New Jersey all children from the age of 6 to 16 must go to school. The school year begins in early September and ends in June. There are about three months of summer vacation in June, July and August.

In the United States there are public schools and private schools. Public schools are free and private schools charge a fee called tuition. The money to pay for the public schools comes from property taxes in your community. The government also helps pay for public schools with other money.

School Districts and School Boards

In the United States, the public schools are divided into districts. Some school districts include only one city or town, but other districts include more than one city or town. To find your local school, you can look in the New Jersey School Directory. 

Each school district has a school board. The members of the school board live in their school district. The school board makes decisions about the schools in the district. For example, the school board decides if the district needs to build new schools. The school board also chooses a superintendent. The superintendent is the official who oversees the district.

School Grade Levels

Pre-school (ages 3 or 4):

Early education can improve outcomes, narrow achievement gaps, and convey long-term benefits for children in school and life. In New Jersey, we have the Head Start program which is a pre-school program. Some public school districts offer pre-school programs. In pre-school, children learn skills that will help them prepare for elementary school including ongoing opportunities for children to help, share and cooperate in a variety of activities, routines, and group configurations. These programs encourage curiosity, problem-solving, and the generation of ideas and fantasy through exploration. You can learn more from the New Jersey Department of Education by going to Division of Early Childhood

Kindergarten (age 5):

Children who have turned five can attend kindergarten. While not mandatory, children who attend kindergarten go to school Monday through Friday. Some kindergarten classes are half-day and some are full-day. In kindergarten, students will develop fine motor skills such as writing and drawing. Kindergarteners also have the opportunity to become more competent in their language and vocabulary skills including the ability to respond to open-ended questions, retell a story using details about an event or experience, and increase their vocabulary.

Grades 1 - 8 (Elementary/Middle/Junior High School):

Children attend school Monday through Friday. Younger children usually stay in one classroom and have one teacher for the whole school year. An MLs will have an English language program included in their schedule.  Older students usually have 6 to 8 different classes during the day. They might change to different rooms and they might have different teachers for each subject. They, too, will have an English language program in their schedule. If your child has been identified as an Multilingual Learner, your child may be receiving English as a Second Language instruction and may also have bilingual instruction in his or her home language in each of the core subjects. Students who are identified as MLs develop literacy and content knowledge in math, science, language arts, and social studies.

Grades 9-12 (High School)

Children usually enter high school at age 14 and graduate at age 18. However, a student can remain in high school up to age 20. High school students change classrooms and have different teachers during the day. High school prepares students for jobs or for studies at a college or university. MLs will have in their high school schedule one or more periods of English as a Second Language instruction. It is important that high school students develop good attendance habits. They must also develop good study habits and skills. Student performance at the high school level will prepare them for their future goals. One important recognition for students who have studied and attained proficiency in at least one language in addition to English by high school graduation is the Seal of Biliteracy. The NJDOE, pursuant to P.L. 2015, c. 303 enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, established the State Seal of Biliteracy program in 2016 to help students recognize the value and the tangible benefits of bilingualism. This designation on a student’s high school diploma also provides employers and universities with a method of identifying bilingual candidates. You can find more information on the Seal of Biliteracy.

A district has an obligation to register children up to age 20. Under federal law, all children in the United States are entitled to a free public elementary and secondary education regardless the race, country of origin, or immigration status of their parents/guardians.

Your child may register in a district from age 5 to age 20. Your child may enroll in the district even if he or she graduated from a high school in his or her home country. The district will review the child’s transcript to determine if the student’s education in his/her country meets the standards expected in a New Jersey school.

A student is eligible to attend the school district pursuant to if he or she lives in the district with his or her parents or guardians, in the home of a person other than the student’s parent or guardian, and the person is domiciled in the school district and is supporting the student without repayment if the student were his or her own child.

School districts may not require that students experiencing homelessness present residency affidavits as a condition of enrollment. The federal McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and state regulations at N.J.A.C. 6A:17 Education of Homeless Children and Students in State Facilities, mandate immediate enrollment of students who lack a fixed, regular, or adequate housing and are considered homeless.

Papers that you may need for enrollment:

• Proof of birth date if available (preferably a translated birth certificate).
• Health Documents: Medical Examination/Immunization Form and Dental Examination Form
• Proof of address: (utility bill, apartment lease, valid driver’s license, or notarized affidavit (sworn statement) of residency)
• Transcripts from previous school(s) if available. For example, parents may have school records from other U.S. schools or from schools in their native countries.

   Ask the school for the list of papers to bring for enrollment.

Medical Exams and Physicals

The school has medical forms you need to fill out and bring back to the school. It is very important that you fill out the forms that your child’s school requests. 

When children enter school for the first time, they must have a physical examination. The doctor will fill out a medical form. The medical form includes immunization records. Children may also have to have additional physical examinations to play sports. 

A district cannot deny a student entry for lack of immunizations. The school must give the student the opportunity to receive their immunizations.  

Enrollment in the school district shall not be denied based upon the absence of student medical information N.J.A.C. 6A:22. School districts must admit any student upon registration and submission of proof that the child has received the necessary immunizations (vaccines). School districts must not delay or deny attendance based on their non-receipt of: 

• A certified copy of the child’s birth certificate or other proof of identity. This is required within 30 days of initial enrollment (N.J.A.C. 6A:22-4.1(g); 
• Medical information, although attendance at school may be deferred while awaiting immunization records (N.J.A.C. 6A:22-4.1(h); N.J.A.C. 8:57-4). Students are allowed up to 30 days to provide proof of immunization history before their provisional status begins. 
• The child’s prior educational record pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:22-4.1(i). A district must accept the child’s foreign transcripts for enrollment. Enrollment may not be denied based on a foreign transcript or immigration Visa except for students on an F-1 Visa. The district is responsible for translating the foreign language transcripts and may not charge the parent/guardian money for doing so. 

Immunizations: Almost all students must have immunizations (vaccines) for the following diseases:

• Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT)
• Influenza (6 months and older prior to attending a licensed day care center or pre-school)
• Polio
• Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (2-11 months before enrolling and attending a licensed day care center or pre-school)
• Measles
• Rubella (German measles)Mumps
• Hepatitis B (for children entering preschool or 5th grade)
• Haemophiles influenza type b (for children under 5)
• Meningococcal (before entering the 6th grade)

If a child had some of these immunizations in another country or state, parents must show a medical record to the doctor at the child’s physical examination. If there is no medical record of the immunizations, the child may have to retake the vaccines. If an immunization is against your religious beliefs, you may be able to apply for an exemption.  If there is no medical record of the immunizations, the child may have to have the shots again.

As part of the registration process, parents/guardians will fill out a “Home Language Survey”. Based on the results of the Home Language Survey, your child may be tested for English language services and your child’s school might suggest that your child be placed in an “English as a Second Language” and a Bilingual Education program. These programs can be very useful in helping your child learn English and do well in school. 

Based on the Home Language Survey, the child may be tested for English language services and your child’s school might suggest that your child be placed in an “English as a Second Language” and/or a Bilingual Education program. This program can be very useful in helping your child learn English and do well in school.

If a child had some of these immunizations in another country or state, parents have to show a medical record to the doctor at the child’s physical examination. If there is no medical record of the immunizations, the child may have to have the shots again.

Medical Examinations

In most elementary schools, children receive screenings for vision (eye), hearing (ear), and back problems like scoliosis. If the screening shows a problem with the child’s vision, hearing, or back, the school sends a letter to the child’s parents. If you receive a letter from the school, you should then take your child to a doctor or clinic for a complete examination. 

Obtaining a Medical Exam

Children can have physical examinations and immunizations in a doctor’s office or at a clinic. Most schools have information about free or low-cost examinations and immunizations. If you cannot afford health insurance for your children, you may be eligible for New Jersey Family Care. New Jersey Family Care offers free or low-cost health plans for children under age 18 whose parents qualify. Your eligibility is based on the size of your family and the amount of money your family makes each month. NJ Family Care is NOT a “welfare” program and recipients are not considered to be “public charges.” 

NJ Family Care is available to qualified legal immigrants. Any legal immigrant to the U.S. is eligible to receive services regardless of amount of time in the United States. NJ Family Care also has the “Medical Emergency Payment Program for Undocumented Residents.” You can find more information about the program by calling NJ Family Care or visiting their website. 

If you are an undocumented resident in a medical emergency, you should inform someone from the hospital staff that you wish to apply for the Medical Emergency Payment Program, and they will either give you an application to fill out and/or notify the County Welfare Agency. 

 Call about the NJ Family Care program if you do not speak English well, their 800 number offers translation services. 

Click here for English or  En Español.  

Most schools begin in late early September and end in mid or late June. The school day is usually about 5 1/2 - 7 hours long. Students usually eat lunch at school. Some children bring lunch to school. At some schools, children can buy their lunch at school, many schools offer free or reduced lunch for students. You can find out more information about eligibility for free or reduced school meals from the United States Department of Agriculture.

Holidays and Closings

Most schools have a winter vacation from late December to the first week of January. They may also have a one-week vacation in the spring. Schools may be closed for some national holidays:

Labor Day: the 1st Monday in September
Thanksgiving: the 4th Thursday in November
New Year’s Day: January 1st
Martin Luther King Day: the 3rd Monday in January
Presidents’ Day: the 3rd Monday in February
Memorial Day: the 4th Monday in May

Schools may be closed for other district holidays. There are special meetings for teachers called in some districts staff development days. Sometimes there is no school on staff development days, and children may go home early. When children go home early, it is called “early dismissal.” Your school calendar lists when children stay home for staff development days, holidays, vacations, or have early dismissal. If your child needs to stay home for a religious holiday, or for any reason, when school is not closed, call the school to report your child’s absence.

Sometimes, schools close when the weather is bad. For example, if there is a lot of snow outside or flooding, the school may close. Most districts have a webpage where they post school closings.

Transportation

District boards of education provide transportation pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1 et seq. and adopt policies and procedures governing the transportation of students to and from school and school-related activities. Children who live 2 and a half or more miles from school usually are provided transportation to school on a school bus or may take public transportation.

Students who live closer to school than 2 and a half miles usually walk to school. Students with disabilities who reside remote from their assigned school or who require transportation services in accordance with their individualized education program (IEP) can receive bussing services.

District boards of education that receive State aid for preschool programs according to N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-54 also provide transportation to preschool students who live remote from their school of attendance. School busses are free or low cost. If your child takes the school bus, you need to know:

• The number of the school bus
• The place and time your child gets on the bus
• The place and time your child gets off the bus
• The number to call if the bus is late in arriving to pick up your child or late in dropping the child at his or her destination.

All New Jersey public schools have a website. You can find information about school closings, activities, events and more on your child’s school’s  website: NJDOE School Directory. You can call the school secretary or your child’s teacher if you have questions about  school procedures. All New Jersey public schools have a website. 

Illnesses

If children are sick, they should stay home. Sometimes parents and guardians send a sick child to school because they must go to work and cannot stay home with the child, but a sick child can make other children sick. Do not send your child to school if:

• The child has a fever of 100° F or higher
• The child threw up the night before or in the morning before school
• The child has a persistent cough
• The child has a skin rash or open sores
• The child has lice (Lice are tiny white bugs found in hair. Parents must wash the child’s hair with a special shampoo and remove the lice eggs from the hair.)
• The child has chicken pox (Chicken pox are round, itchy sores, usually brown or red found on children’s skin.)
• The child has “Strep” throat (Strep throat usually appears as white or yellow spots in the back of the throat, a fever and difficulty swallowing. Your child can go back to school after taking an antibiotic for 24 – 48 hours.)
• The child has scarlet fever (Scarlet fever is very rare; it usually appears as red spots on the skin and a bright red tongue.) The child can go back to school after taking an antibiotic for 24 – 48 hours.)
• The child has conjunctivitis (pinkeye)

Schools usually send a letter to parents if a student in their child’s classroom has a contagious illness such as chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever, or lice. This letter will tell you what to look for so you will know if your child catches the illness.

Medications

Parents should not send medicines to school with children unless it is necessary. Children are not allowed to take medicine by themselves at school. If it is necessary for a child to take a medicine in school, parents should write a note to the school nurse. The child should bring the medicine to the nurse’s office. Some schools may need a doctor’s note. Parents should send medicine to school in the original pharmacy bottle, not in a bag or an envelope. The bottle must have a label with:

• The child’s name
• The doctor’s name
• The name of the medicine
• How much and when to give the medicine

The child must come to the nurse’s office to take any or all medications. If you have a question about your child’s health at school, call the school nurse or health clerk.

Late for School:

Children should come on time to school. If children come late, the teacher will mark them late.   You should call the school in the morning if your child is going to be late. Or you can send a note with your child to the school. Remember that being frequently late can impact your child’s grades.

Absent From School:

When your child cannot come to school, call the school every day in the early morning before school starts. Some schools have an answering machine. Parents can leave a message on the school’s answering machine.

When you call the school, you should say the following information:

• Your child’s name
• Your child’s grade and teacher
• Why your child is going to be absent
• Your name and phone number

Sometimes parents take their children out of school during the day before school is over. They may have to take their children to the doctor or dentist during the day. If you want to take your children out of school, you must write a note to the teacher. Your child should take the note to the teacher in the morning. The note should say:

• Why you are taking your child out of school
• What time you will take your child out of school
• The name of the person picking up your child if he or she is not a parent or guardian

When you go to the school to pick up your child, go to the office and ask for your child. The school will ask you to sign a paper so your child can leave.

Extended absences:

If your child will be out of school for an extended time, you should talk to your child’s teacher before you go. Children who are absent from school must do the schoolwork and homework they miss. If a child is absent from school for more than two days, most schools want parents/guardians to call the school to get the make-up work. You or your child’s classmate can go to the child’s class to get the make-up work.

Emergency Contacts

If your child becomes sick or has an accident at school, the school will call you or the person on the “emergency card.”

Emergency Card Information: The school will give you this form when you enroll your children in school. On the emergency card, write the name and phone number of the person to call if your child is sick or has an accident at school. It is very important to fill out the emergency card for each child and send it back to school.

Include the following information on the emergency card:

• The telephone number where you are during the day
• The name and telephone number of a relative or close friend
• The name and telephone number of your child’s doctor or clinic
• Any special health needs your child has

If this information changes at any time during the school year, please contact the school and fill out a new emergency card with the updated information.

Moving: If you move to another apartment or house, you should contact the school and give them the new address and phone number. You should also fill out a new emergency card.

If you have a question about your child’s health at school, call the school nurse or health clerk. If you are reporting an absence, call the school secretary. You can call the school secretary or your child’s teacher if you have questions about school procedures. All New Jersey public schools have a website. You can find information about school closing, activities, events and more on your child’s school’s website. 

There are three kinds of school personnel: administrators, teachers, and support staff.

Administrators oversee the schools. An administrator has the greatest responsibility for managing a school district or school.  There are different kinds of administrators:

• Superintendent: The superintendent is the administrator of the school district.
• Principal: Each school in the district has a principal who is the administrator of the school.
• Assistant Principal: Sometimes schools have assistants to help the principals.

Teachers teach the students in the school. There are many kinds of teachers:

• Homeroom Teacher- In middle, junior high and high school, students meet with their homeroom teacher for the first 10 or 15 minutes of each school day. During homeroom, students hear announcements and get information about the school day.
• Classroom Teacher- In elementary school, students usually stay with their classroom teacher during the school day. The classroom teacher usually teaches many subjects such as reading, math, and science.
• Bilingual Teacher- The bilingual teacher teaches core content subjects in the students’ home language and in English.
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher- The ESL teacher teaches English to students who need to increase their English proficiency.
• Special Education Teacher- The special education teacher teaches studentsidentified with special needs.
• Gifted and Talented Teacher- The gifted and talented teacher teaches classes whose students require modifications of their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their academic capabilities.
• Music Teacher- The music teacher teaches rhythm, singing and perhaps how to play a musical instrument.
• Art Teacher- The art teacher may teach painting, drawing, clay modeling, and other arts with the goal of achieving basic literacy in the arts.
• Physical Education (PE) Teacher-The PE teacher teaches physical education through sports and exercises. P.E. teachers sometimes teach Health classes. The aim of Comprehensive Health and Physical Education isa strong and sustained emphasis on the health and wellness of all students.
• Speech Teacher-The speech teacher helps students who have problems with pronunciation and speaking.
• Librarian- The librarian is a person trained in library science. The librarian teaches library skills including how to borrow books from the library. At the middle school and high school, the librarian will help students locate information when assigned research projects.

Support Staff help the administrators and teachers do their work. Some of the support staff are:

• School Administrative Assistant: The administrative assistant may respond to telephone communications, respond to e-mails, type letters and notes, create reports, register school visitors, and help the school administrator with all other duties. She or he helps the school administrator run the building.
• School Nurse: The school nurse takes care of sick children in the school.
• Social Worker- The social worker or counselor helps students with problems they are having in school or at home. The social worker may work with the child, the parent, or the whole family.
• Guidance Counselor- The guidance counselor is a person that gives advice to students about educational and personal decisions. At the middle school and high school level, guidance counselors help students choose courses and give them information about colleges and jobs.

In elementary school, talk to your child’s classroom teacher first. He or she will help you or tell you who else can give you information. If you need more help, you can call the principal.

In middle, junior high or high school, you can call your child’s homeroom teacher first. If you need more help, you can call your child’s school’s main office to make an appointment with the principal.

Meeting your Child's Teacher

You and your child’s teacher can work together to help your child do well in school. It shows your child that you are interested in their education when you know their teachers’ names and when you are involved in their schools. It is often helpful to contact your child’s teacher during the beginning of the school year, even if you just call to introduce yourself or say, "Hello". If you do not speak English, you can ask someone who does to help interpret for you.

In addition to when your child first starts in a teacher’s class, there are times where it is very important to communicate with your child’s teachers:

• If your child has special needs or health concerns
• If your child is not getting any homework and you believe they should
• If you and your child do not understand their homework
• If you notice a big change in your child’s behavior, school performance
• If you have not received any report cards or interim reports and you believe they were distributed
• If you would like to volunteer to chaperone a trip or help the teacher

Your child’s teacher wants to help you and your children, so even if you not agree about something, try to come up with solutions that are in the best interest of your child. It is also helpful to write down the questions you have for the teacher before meeting with him or her. If you do not speak English, you can ask the district to provide you with a translator.

The home-language survey must be administered to all students upon enrollment. It can be administered through writing or an oral interview. 

The second step of the identification process is the records review. This review process is mandatory for all school districts/charters and cannot be altered according to ESSA §3111(b)(2)(A).  The records review is based on oral interviews with family/student and/or review of available documents  such as school records .

The last step in the identification process is the testing of eligible students. Identification criteria, based on the scores from the New Jersey-approved WIDA language proficiency assessments, must be used to determine eligibility. A student can be eligible for entrance with a state approved assessment in which the student scored a composite proficiency level below 4.5 

When students first enroll in school, the district will use a home language survey to determine which students speak a native language other than English. Students must be tested to determine their English language proficiency. The assessment/test helps the school place the students in the appropriate educational setting. Each year, students in ESL programs and bilingual classes take an English language proficiency assessment known as the ACCESS for ELLs to determine English language proficiency growth. Students take ESL and bilingual classes until their English skills in all four domains of language are proficient. You can find out more information by contacting the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Supplemental Educational Programs, Title III/Bilingual and ESL and by reading the New Jersey Entry and Exit Requirements. 

Section 3113 of the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) requires that all states  “Establish and implement, with timely and meaningful consultation with local educational agencies representing the geographic diversity of the State, standardized statewide entrance and exit procedures.”  

All students entering New Jersey public schools must be evaluated using the ML identification process articulated below. This is a three-step process which includes the multiple indicators:  

1. New Jersey Home-Language Survey;
2. The Records Review Process;
3. and Testing for Identification.

Classroom Subjects

The school curriculum is defined as the student expectations that take place in the educational process. It refers to the sequence of instruction. The subjects children study in school are part of that school curriculum. In elementary schools, children study many different subjects:

• Reading
• Language Arts
• Math Health
• Science
• Social Studies Art
• World Languages
• Physical Education
• Library
• Music

In elementary school, each class may be about 30 to 40 minutes or longer amounts of instructional time if needed. For example, reading might be expanded to allow the students extra time to learn. Children also have recess in elementary school. During recess, children usually play outside in the school playground.

In middle school or junior high school, children usually change rooms for classes. They usually have different teachers during the day. They usually do not have recess, but they may go out for lunch. The subjects they study are:

• Language Arts
• Physical Education and Health
• Science
• Social Studies
• World Languages
• Music
• Math
• Computers
• Art

High school students take required and elective courses. Required courses are subjects that all students must take to graduate. For example, English and Physical Education are required courses for all four years. Some high school classes have different levels of difficulty. For example, an English class might be a basic, regular, honors or Advanced Placement class. Here are some of the different subjects in high school:

• English (sometimes they will take a Literature class)
• History
• Science (such as Physics, Biology or Chemistry)
• Mathematics (such as Algebra, Geometry or Calculus)
• Health
• Vocational Classes (if available)
• World Language Classes –high schools require that students take at least five credits of a World Language.

Special education means specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including— (i) Instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings; and. (ii) Instruction in physical education. (Nov 14, 2019) 

Special Education creates an arrangement of teaching procedures individually planned and systematically monitored so that students with special needs can access the school curriculum and achieve equity in their educational program. 

The Office of Special Education is responsible under federal statute to monitor the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) by local education agencies (LEAs). The system is accountable for enforcing the requirements and for ensuring continuous improvement.  The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) gives parents the right to participate in their child’s education (Parental Rights in Special Education) . If your child is recommended for Special Education services, you as the parent have a right to a copy of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and to have a translator present during the process.

Each year different grade levels of students take what are known as standardized assessments These assessments are designed to help see if students are learning the information that they need and compare their performance to other students and schools. You can find out information about the assessments that your child may take each year from the New Jersey Department of Education: 

The state assessments are different for each grade level. Not every grade level will take a state assessment each year. Some assessments are used to see how much progress a student has made in learning English or as a requirement for high school graduation. MLs take the ACCESS for ELLs assessment each year in the spring until they exit from an English language program.