On November 7,  2023, when all 120 seats in the New Jersey Legislature are up for grabs, it’s reasonable to expect, as Ben Dworkin of Rowan University says, niche issues may loom large. One of those niche issues is likely to be education: “if you can motivate a small group of parents,” says Dworkin, “it can make a difference. The close races are going to be decided by 500 or 1,000 votes.”

Over the last two weeks NJ Education Report has focused on ten of these “niche issues”—not so niche for parents concerned about our state education system—by republishing articles relevant to parents, teachers, and school leaders.  

Here’s a brief recap:

#1: “Progressive State Education”

What Does It Mean For a State Education System To Be “Progressive”?

When do the needs of children trump the needs of adults? I think Gov. Phil Murphy and his colleagues at the New Jersey Education Association are getting it wrong.

#2: Informed School Choice for Families

Great Leaders Embrace School Choice

The purpose of Newark Common App is a return to the mission of a universal enrollment system that promotes equity and access to great schools and allows parents to easily navigate public school options across the city. 

#3: Research-based Reading Instruction

The “Science of Reading”

One of the percolating issues in K-12 education is the “science of reading,” a research-based approach to teaching students literacy. 

#4: Parent Rights and Education

What an NJ Parent Rights Agenda in Education Should Look Like

Both the national Democratic and Republican parties have issued “Parents Rights” platforms in an effort to harvest the energy produced by less-than-stellar appraisals of classroom instruction during Covid and, of course, our tiresome culture wars.

#5: Sex Education in Schools

Controversial NJ Sex Education Standards Fuel Parents’ Loss of Faith in Public Schools

Anyone reading New Jersey media this morning–or, in fact, most days for the past couple of months—could be forgiven for thinking we’re all obsessed with sex education. Time for a reality check.

#6: Education’s Implementation Problem

New Jersey’s Learning Loss Initiative Fails to Deliver

Speaking of the state Education Department’s refusal to confront severe learning loss, its major initiative is failing abysmally.

#7: Remediating Learning Loss

A Research-Driven Intervention That Combats Learning Loss

It’s not all so bleak! A Jersey non-profit is showing that we can remediate learning loss, with spectacular results. Can we scale this?

#8: Public Charter Schools

What Might Really Be Behind Governor Murphy’s Pivot on Charter Schools

Gov. Phil Murphy, through his education department, has a long history of refusing to allow public charter schools to expand, despite the long lists of applicants desperate for a seat. This past year was different.

#9: School District Spending That Lacks Accountability

Families Pay the Price for Asbury Park School District Dysfunction

Asbury Park Public Schools has become an emblem of New Jersey’s failure to effectively intervene in district dysfunction while local families pay the price. 

#10: An Obsession With Wokeness

Education Reform: What’s Wrong with an All or Nothing Approach

While competing parent groups scream at each other about LGBTQ rights and drag queen story hour, both national parties need to take a deep breath and think about this.