New Jersey – Amendment to Accountability Plan – NCLB Policy Letters to States

April 13, 2007

The Honorable Lucille E. Davy
Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Education
100 River View Plaza
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0500

Dear Commissioner Davy:

I am writing in response to New Jersey’s request to amend its State accountability plan under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Following our discussions with your staff, the changes that are aligned with NCLB are now included in an amended State accountability plan that New Jersey submitted to the Department on February 15, 2007. A summary of the approved amendments is enclosed with this letter. I am pleased to fully approve New Jersey’s amended plan, which we will post on the Department’s website.

As you know, any further requests to amend the New Jersey accountability plan must be submitted to the Department for review and approval as required by section 1111(f)(2) of Title I. Please know that approval of New Jersey’s accountability plan is not an approval of New Jersey’s standards and assessment system.

Please also be aware that approval of New Jersey’s accountability plan for Title I, including the amendments approved above, does not indicate that the plan complies with Federal civil rights requirements, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

I am confident that New Jersey will continue to hold schools and school districts accountable for the achievement of all students. I wish you well in your school improvement efforts. If you need any additional assistance in implementing the standards, assessments and accountability provisions of NCLB, please do not hesitate to contact Abigail Potts (abigail.potts@ed.gov) or Sue Rigney (sue.rigney@ed.gov).

Sincerely,

Kerri Briggs
Acting Assistant Secretary

cc: Governor Jon Corzine
Suzanne Osche

Amendments to the New Jersey Accountability Plan

The following is a summary of the State’s amendment request. Please refer to the Department’s website (www.ed.govhttps://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/index.html) for the complete New Jersey accountability plan.

Clarifying workbook language (all Elements)

Revision: New Jersey clarified the language regarding most elements in its approved accountability workbook. These non-substantive changes are intended to provide additional detail regarding the New Jersey assessment and accountability system.

Decision Letters on State Accountability Plans