As an important component of New Jersey’s comprehensive reform strategy, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), through its Race to the Top Phase 3 (RTTT3) application, is implementing an online Instructional Improvement System (IIS) called edConnectNJ in support of educators in classroom, principals at the building level and district admin at their central offices. edConnectNJ is designed to support all LEAs in accessing CCSS-aligned model curriculum, formative assessments, student level data reports and more. The components of the edConnectNJ are described below:
- A web-based portal housing CCSS-aligned model curriculum and formative assessments and linking effective open education sources with the standards. edConnectNJ will enable teachers to search and select curricular and assessment content aligned with CCSS standards and associated student learning objectives. Teachers will also have the opportunity to submit curricular and assessment content to edConnectNJ;
- Lesson plan module allowing for educators to organize, create, and post their lesson plans. Administrators can review and comment on these lesson plans.
- An assessment-focused reporting tool used for formative assessments with the additional historical data of NJSMART summative assessments that produce reports at the student, teacher, school, and district levels;
- Professional development resources for teachers and school leaders, including CCSS instructional, assessment and professional development materials integrated with the NJ Educator Resource Exchange
- A mechanism for teachers, school-based staff, district personnel, and NJDOE to provide feedback on the system that will be incorporated into edConnectNJ on an ongoing basis.
The purpose of this grant program is to support the launch and implementation of the edConnectNJ in all public and charter districts in the State of New Jersey. Grant funds may be used for costs such as hardware improvements, edConnectNJ school setup fees, edConnectNJ operating costs and per pupil licenses, and edConnectNJ professional development necessary to support the implementation of edConnectNJ at the school/LEA level. The resources available through edConnectNJ will support the daily efforts of educators, supervisors, administration and support staff in the areas of educational planning, program implementation, and assessment of students in their classrooms.