New Jersey's urban initiative - revitalization of urban schools

American Education, July, 1984 by Saul Cooperman

Assure access to schools, students and teachers, as well as to school and student records; and

Permit documentation and distribution of results.

Operation School Renewal objectives

Operation School Renewal sets objectives for the initial target districts in five areas that the Department of Education's Urban Education Advisory Council identified as "symptomatic of urban district problems.' They are:

Improving attendance to the state average;

Raising math, reading, and writing scores to state standards;

Increasing the effectiveness of participating principals;

Reducing disruptive behavior; and

Reducing youth unemployment through vocational education.

The department designed these objectives so that they would be measurable and obtainable: Measurable, because it is essential to track district progress and determine what is working and what is not; obtainable, because it is essential to start succeeding. The effective schools literature demonstrates the truth of the old saying, "Nothing succeeds like success.' For years, many of our urban schools have experienced a cycle of failure and poor performance that resulted in feelings of frustration and apathy. Through this initiative, they can begin a cycle of success.

To that end, the department is committing a School Renewal Team, which will provide human and financial resources to support school improvement activities. Members of the team will include the department's assistant commissioner for the Division of Educational Programs; a project manager; five division heads and other department staff; university experts, business and industry advisors; consultants as needed; and one professional from each of the target districts.

The School Renewal Team will help each of the three target districts design an individualized three-year educational plan geared to meeting its needs and build upon efforts already under way. Those plans will be designed to achieve the five objectives listed above. The School Renewal Team will also help the districts follow through the those plans. Its time and experience are the core of the commitment the department will make to Operation School Renewal.

The department is now developing a range of programs to offer to target districts. These include: a variety of proven programs for decreasing absenteeism; instructional models that have increased test scores elsewhere; leadership study sessions for participating principals; strategies for dealing with disruptive student behavior; and job placement counseling procedures for vocational education students.

The Department of Education will also make a limited financial commitment for programs related to computer instruction, improved attendance, and effective alternative programs for disruptive youth. Like many of the successful experiences discussed in the effective schools research, New Jersey's urban initiative is basically oriented toward programs, not finances. However, in some programs money is essential. For example, no one can teach computer literacy without computers.