GUIDE FOR IMPLEMENTING
URBAN EDUCATION REFORM
IN ABBOTT DISTRICTS

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

It is the policy of the New Jersey State Board of Education and the State Department of Education that no person, on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, handicap or marital status, shall be subjected to discrimination in employment or be excluded from or denied benefits of any activity, program or service for which the department has responsibility. The department will comply with all state and federal laws and regulations concerning nondiscrimination.

The Division of Finance and the Division of Student Services gratefully acknowledge the following school districts for their contributions in the preparation of the Guide for Implementing Urban Education Reform in Abbott Districts:

Camden Public School District

Newark Public School District

Pleasantville Public School District

In addition, special thanks are due to a number of divisions and offices in the Department of Education who contributed valuable expertise to the revision of this guide:

Office of School-to-Career and College Initiatives

Office of Educational Technology

Office of Early Childhood Education

Office of Educational Support Services and Interagency Initiatives

Office of Grants Management and Development

Office of Fiscal Review and Improvement

Office of Standards and Professional Development

Office of Bilingual Education and Equity Issues

Office of Special Education Programs

Office of Program Review and Improvement

The New Jersey Department of Education (DOE), divisions of Finance and Student Services have developed this Guide for Implementing Urban Education Reform in Abbott Districts. The guide provides information and general guidance to School Management Teams (SMTs), administrators, educators, parents and community members in the Abbott school districts to effectively implement urban education reform through the school-based planning and management process.

Commissioner of Education David C. Hespe approved revised regulations, Urban Education Reform in the Abbott Districts, on June 7, 2000 to facilitate implementation of education reform in 30 Abbott districts. According to the Commissioner, "These regulations provide a blueprint for school-wide reform in our disadvantaged urban areas and will help Abbott districts achieve our Core Curriculum Content standards." The regulations build on the experiences in the Abbott districts since November 1998 and the input received from many groups and individuals that participated in focus groups, submitted written comments and/or spoke at public hearings. The regulations are contained in Section III of this guide.

This guide serves as a single source for practical information about the "why," "what," and "how" of school improvement planning and implementation. The ideas presented throughout - particularly in the Helpful Hints - are suggestions and best practices based on research and experiences of people engaged in school-based reform here in New Jersey and throughout the nation. Although drawn from best practices, these do not convey requirements in the regulations.

The Guide for Implementing Urban Education Reform in Abbott Districts dated September, 2000 has been revised to reflect the new regulations effective July 1, 2000. To facilitate the submission of plans and accompanying forms, the contents have been reorganized as described in the following paragraphs.

Sections I-VI contain essentially the same information as the 1999 Guide. Section I provides background information on urban education reform in New Jersey, and Section II outlines the DOE organizational structure to support the reform process. It is strongly suggested that SMTs begin their work with a thorough review of the regulations in Section III and then proceed to Section IV, "School Management Teams." Schools considering joining the third cohort of whole school reform in September 2000 and schools applying for Whole School Reform in January 2001 should read Section V, "Becoming a WSR School." Section VI provides an overview of all required plans contained in the regulations.

Section VII formerly contained only the description of Required Programs in Secondary Schools. The revised Section VII contains this description, together with the forms and instructions, for Required Programs in Secondary Schools. Non-WSR middle and high schools should review Section VII.

Section VIII formerly contained a description of the WSR Implementation Plan and School-based Budget for all WSR schools. The forms and instructions for the WSR Implementation Plan were formerly located in the appendix. The revised Section VIII includes the description of the WSR Implementation Plan and School-based Budget plus all forms and instructions for completing the plan, including the Particularized Need application, for elementary schools only.

Section IX formerly contained the Local Particularized Need application and instructions. The revised Section IX includes the description of the WSR Implementation Plan for secondary schools and elementary schools with grades 6, 7, and/or 8 that are applying for Required Programs in Secondary Schools. Section IX includes

• all instructions and forms for completing the plan;
• all instructions and forms for completing the Required Programs in Secondary Schools; and
• the Local Particularized Need application and instructions.

Section X provides information on the DOE Abbott Early Childhood Education Initiative. Finally, Section XI is a resource directory of DOE offices and developers, references, pertinent web sites, and a glossary of terms.

All forms and instructions formerly located in the Appendix have been incorporated into Sections VII, VIII and IX outlined above.

Schools and districts are encouraged to duplicate any or all materials in this guide.

Nothing presented in this manual is intended to supersede, or be construed as superseding, applicable state or federal legislation, regulations, or any other requirements that govern schools or the use of funds.

Staff from the Office of Program Review and Improvement (OPRI), the Office of Fiscal Review and Improvement (OFRI), and the Program Improvement Regional Centers (PIRCs) are dedicated to providing information to make it easier for local WSR stakeholders to do their jobs. We appreciate your comments and always welcome your suggestions on how we may better serve Abbott districts and schools. Please provide any comments and/or questions to Dr. Barbara Anderson, Assistant Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Education, Division of Student Services 100 River View Executive Plaza, P.O. Box 500, Trenton, NJ 08625-0500.