NJ Asks Caldwell School To Share Secrets Of Post-COVID Success

CALDWELLS, NJ — A school in the Caldwell-West Caldwell School District is being asked to share its secrets of success due to its “exceptional growth in student performance” after the coronavirus pandemic, state education officials announced Monday.

Lincoln Elementary School in Caldwell is among 52 schools that will be taking part in a statewide study that aims to “accelerate student learning,” the New Jersey Department of Education said.

The Promising Practices Project is a partnership with the New Jersey State Policy Lab and the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, which are both at Rutgers University. The initiative will explore the best practices of dozens of school districts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The involved schools – including Lincoln Elementary – have each “demonstrated exceptional growth in student performance” when comparing pre- and post-pandemic performance in English language arts and mathematics, state officials said.

Possible topics will include “promising practices in curriculum” in addition to other metrics such as school climate, summertime and after-school programs, and “unique approaches to meet the needs of student populations.”

The state has allocated $1 million for the research initiative at its onset in fiscal year 2023.

Other schools selected for the study in Essex County include University High School in Newark and the Orange Preparatory Academy of Inquiry & Innovation in Orange.

“We know that students throughout the state have struggled to fully recover academically in the post-pandemic world, and we remain committed to ongoing efforts to support their growth,” acting education commissioner Kevin Dehmer said.

The findings from the study will be presented in a formal report, with the goal of sharing the innovative learning approaches with schools throughout the state via presentations, resources, and convenings, so other educators can effectively replicate the successful programs and initiatives, the NJDOE said.

“Working together to identify classroom-tested strategies that address our children’s most pressing academic needs is paramount,” Gov. Phil Murphy said.

“Through the Promising Practices Project, we are pulling together invaluable firsthand feedback from educators across the state to support accelerated learning and ensure our students are on pace to meet their educational goals,” Murphy added.

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