posted on
Garden State Results for the Just-Released National Assessment of Educational Progress
[New Jersey – February 12, 2025] JerseyCAN, the only statewide advocacy organization in New Jersey committed to ensuring access to high-quality public schools for every child regardless of zip code, cultural background, and socioeconomic status, released today an easy-to-understand white paper showcasing the New Jersey results for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
Earlier this month, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released its National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) or “The Nation’s Report Card,” which provides biennial information about student academic achievement in Math and Reading in all 50 states. The assessment measures knowledge and skills in both subjects for fourth- and eighth-grade students and provides a breakdown of student performance based on race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other factors. The NAEP is a congressionally mandated program overseen and administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences.
“When these New Jersey results were recently released, JerseyCAN stressed that New Jersey’s performance was objectively lackluster at best. This remains true, and it is incumbent on all of us to ensure this information is shared throughout the state, is easy to understand, and engenders honest discussions,” stated JerseyCAN Executive Director Paula White. “The bottom line is New Jersey is not #1 in education in the country, and we must double down on high-quality instruction delivered under conditions most conducive to learning. We also need full transparent, implementation of all new policies and laws to address this crisis. The full swath of JerseyCAN’s programmatic efforts and our statewide engagement are dedicated to ensuring a high-quality education for every child regardless of zip code, cultural background, and socioeconomic status. We hope that our new JerseyCAN White Paper provides a clearer understanding of the desperate situation our kids face in the Garden State and that the document is proactively shared with parents, elected officials at the local level and in Trenton, and those running for office in 2025. There is much work to do regarding New Jersey’s education system. Anyone who says differently does not have the best interests in mind for our kids or our families. However, we can’t address the problem unless all parties and stakeholders clearly understand the situation our kids currently face in our public schools. JerseyCAN will continue to fight to steer significant resources directly into our classrooms and to advocate that the state teaches reading, math, and other subjects using the most robust, evidence-based instruction.”
Below, please note the JerseyCAN summary. The full NAEP New Jersey report can be found here
Contact: Matthew Frankel, MDF Strategies, 917.617.7914, Matthew@MDFStrategies.com