N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:8-1.1 : EDUCATION — STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENT — GENERAL PROVISIONS —1.1 - Purpose

(a) To prepare students for college and career, success in life, and work in an economy driven by information, knowledge, and innovation requires a public education system where teaching and learning are aligned with 21st century learning outcomes. The outcomes move beyond a focus on basic competency in core subjects and foster a deeper understanding of academic content at much higher levels by promoting critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity through:
1. The New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) that specify expectations in nine academic content areas: English language arts; mathematics; visual and performing arts; comprehensive health and physical education; science; social studies; world languages; technology; and 21st century life and careers;
2. Indicators at benchmark grade levels delineated in the standards that further clarify expectations for student achievement; and
3. Twenty-first century themes and skills integrated into all content standards areas.
(b) District boards of education shall ensure that standards, assessments, curriculum, instruction, and professional development are aligned in a local support system that enables all students to achieve 21st century outcomes through the establishment of student-centered learning environments that provide opportunities for academically diverse students to:
1. Learn in meaningful, real-world contexts through rigorous and relevant curriculum that promotes engagement in learning by addressing varying college and career goals;
2. Access and use quality learning tools, technologies, and resources;
3. Become self directed seekers of knowledge able to evaluate, apply, and create new knowledge in varying contexts; and
4. Use effective communication, communication technology, and collaboration skills to interact with cultural sensitivity in the diverse local and world community.
(c) The NJSLS, including indicators, enable district boards of education to establish curriculum and instructional methodologies for the purpose of providing students with the constitutionally mandated system of "thorough" public school instruction that promotes college and career readiness.
(d) The Statewide assessment system is designed to measure college and career readiness and student progress in the attainment of the NJSLS.
(e) The results of the Statewide assessments shall facilitate program evaluation based on student performance and shall enable district boards of education, the public, and government officials to evaluate the educational delivery systems of all public schools.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:8-1.1

Amended by R.2002 d.357, effective 11/4/2002.
See: 34 N.J.R. 2916(a), 34 N.J.R. 3804(a).
In (c), inserted "is designed to" preceding "measure".
Amended by R.2003 d.430, effective 11/3/2003.
See: 35 N.J.R. 2551(a), 35 N.J.R. 5077(a).
In (a), substituted "progress indicators at benchmark grade levels" for "progress indicators at the benchmark grades of four, eight, and 11-12" following "cumulative" and deleted 3.
Amended by R.2005 d.213, effective 7/5/2005.
See: 37 N.J.R. 833(a), 37 N.J.R. 2487(a).
In (a), rewrote 1.
Amended by R.2009 d.234, effective 7/20/2009.
See: 41 N.J.R. 1302(a), 41 N.J.R. 2779(c).
Rewrote (a); added new (b); and recodified former (b) through (d) as (c) through (e).
Amended by R.2013 d.144, effective 12/16/2013.
See: 45 N.J.R. 1323(a), 45 N.J.R. 2545(a).
In the introductory paragraph of (a), inserted "college and career", deleted "future education," following "life,", and substituted "The" for "These"; rewrote (a)1 and (a)3; in (a)2, substituted "Indicators" for "Cumulative progress indicators"; in (b)1, substituted "real-world" for "real world", and substituted "college and career" for 'postsecondary"; in (c), deleted "cumulative progress" following "including", and inserted "that promotes college and career readiness"; and in (d), inserted "college and career readiness and".
Petition for Rulemaking.
See: 47 N.J.R. 733(a), 913(b), 2310(b).
Administrative change.
See: 48 N.J.R. 1802(a).