New Jersey

The New Jersey Department of Education's vision for this project is that all students, no matter which district they attend, will be able to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards because they will have unlimited access to people, to the vast array of curriculum and instruction offered in the state and to information offered in the state and to information and ideas, no matter where they exist.

Following are highlights of key educational technology initiatives to assist in achieving this vision.

Technology Fellowship: Mentoring and Modeling Initiative. This project was launched with funding from the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund and developed in partnership with New Jersey Education Association. One Technology Fellowship will be awarded to a teacher in each of the state's 21 counties so that each may be released from teacher responsibilities for a full school year (2001-2002). The program's purposes are to celebrate the achievements of exemplary technology-using teachers and to share their success with others via statewide programs of mentoring and modeling for the effective use of technology in the classroom. At least 50 percent of the technology fellowship recipient's time must be devoted to serving the needs of economically-disadvantaged districts.

New Jersey Educational Leadership Institutes for Technology in Education (NJ ELITE) is a three-year partnership venture among the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA) and the New Jersey Principals' and Supervisors' Association (NJPSA) to help school superintendents and principals become informed leaders who can technology in their daily tasks and who support and encourage teachers' use of technology and learning. Funded by a $5.1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's State Leadership Development Plan, the program is intended to serve more than 3,400 principals and superintendents in the state. Core activities are seven comprehensive hands-on, small-group institutes and the culminating seminar. Other activities include showcases, video conferences, web-based programs, online support and mentoring opportunities.

Grants for 2000-2001: The New Jersey Department of Education implemented three new grant programs to help local educators provide their students and staff with more opportunities to gain access to effectively use technology in the classroom. Through the Pairing and Sharing program, pairs of districts share resources, with at least one of the partners representing an economically disadvantaged district. The Access-Collaboration-Equity (ACE) Program is designed to increase student achievement in the core Curriculum Content Standards and family involvement in their children's education through the establishment of community-based centers - ACE Centers. School implementing whole school reform will benefit from $1.23 million in grant funds from the Educational Technology and Whole School Reform programs. Districts are expected to comply with regulations for infusing educational technology into the curriculum.

Verizon also has a separate grant program called Access New Jersey. This $130 million program is a designed to link K-12 schools and libraries was established through an agreement reached by the Board of Utilities, Verizon and the New Jersey Ratepayer Advocate, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Education. The program includes educational discounts for ISDN, frame relay and network development that totals more than $80 million. For additional information, see: www.state.nj.us/education

Contact
Julia Stapleton
Director, Educational Technology
New Jersey Department of Education
P.O. Box 500 - 100 Riverview
Trenton, NJ 08625-0500
609-984-1644 (p)  609-341-3884 (f)
E-mail: jstaplet@doe.state.nj.us