N.J.
thinks small to improve schools
Saturday, May 07, 2005 • BY
JOHN MOONEY • Star-Ledger Staff
Following efforts to improve New Jersey's
neediest elementary schools, state officials yesterday
launched a plan to create smaller and more personalized
settings within their middle and high schools.
State Education Commissioner William
Librera announced a pilot program in four districts that
would include breaking up larger schools into small
"learning communities" and providing more consistent and
direct contact between students and teachers.
The four districts chosen were Orange,
Elizabeth, Jersey City and Bridgeton.
For instance, officials said Elizabeth
High School, the state's largest with about 5,300 students,
might be broken up into 18 or 20 specialized programs that
students select. Or teachers might stay with students across
disciplines or for several years at a time, helping build
stronger relationships.
State officials said their aim is to make
these years of schooling much less daunting and, in turn,
more fruitful. The benefits might be lower drop-out rates,
better attendance and higher student performance.
"When dealing with adolescence, any place
is tough, but it's only been compounded by having these
children in these very large and faceless middle and high
schools," said assistant commissioner Gordon
MacInnes.
The four districts are to spend the next
18 months developing ways to create such environments, he
said, with the aim to have changes made for the 2006-07
school year.
No additional state money has been
earmarked as yet, but MacInnes said funding would likely be
required for additional staff and services once the programs
are in place.
© 2005 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with
permission.
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