State Board of Education elects officers, appoints acting Camden superintendent and adopts teacher-test updates and civic-absence rule

The New Jersey State Board of Education on a voice vote elected Kathy Goldenberg as president and Dr. Ned Johnson as vice president and approved a slate of administrative actions, including appointing Dr. Davida Coe Brockington as acting state district superintendent for Camden and adopting revised teacher practice assessments and cut scores that take effect Sept. 1, 2025.

The board conducted its annual officer election as required by state law (NJSA 18A:4-8). Secretary/commissioner staff presented the nominating committee’s slate; there were no floor nominations and the board voted by voice to elect Goldenberg and Dr. Johnson.

The board also voted to appoint Dr. Davida Coe Brockington as acting state district superintendent for the state‑operated school district of Camden. Commissioners praised her background and experience; President Goldenberg said the board was "very excited" and a member noted that Camden "is blessed to have you." The motion carried.

In other formal actions, the board accepted certification recommendations from executive county superintendents and certified five districts: Ridgefield Park, Saddle Brook, Long Beach Island Consolidated, Point Pleasant Borough and Hamburg. The board approved the list unanimously.

The department presented a resolution to adopt revised practice content knowledge tests and recommended cut scores for technology and engineering education, family and consumer sciences, and social studies; the board approved the recommended cut scores. The resolution sets the revised assessments to be effective Sept. 1, 2025, and retires the existing tests on Aug. 31, 2025.

Separately, the board adopted amendments to chapter 23 (school district operations) to add a definition of "civic event" and to clarify that a student in grades 6–12 is eligible for one state‑excused absence per school year to attend a civic event, aligning the rule with statute (18A:36‑33.2). Department staff said the proposal was revised after public comment to clarify that the allowable absence applies to the school year rather than the calendar year.

Public testimony included remarks from student representative Kaelin DeRose, who said "about 34 percent of students have held a leadership position in school" and that "25% of eligible teens in Newark registered to vote in their school board election this past April." DeRose told the board she will represent "nearly 1,400,000 students across the state" during 2025–26.

A board member raised concerns about a national review of roughly $7,000,000,000 designated for public‑school supports and urged monitoring by New Jersey officials, noting possible impacts on programs that serve high‑need students.

The meeting closed after routine business and the board adjourned following a voice vote.

Votes at a glance: Kathy Goldenberg, president — elected by voice vote; Dr. Ned Johnson, vice president — elected by voice vote; Dr. Davida Coe Brockington — appointed acting state district superintendent for Camden by majority voice vote; Five districts (Ridgefield Park; Saddle Brook; Long Beach Island Consolidated; Point Pleasant Borough; Hamburg) — certified (unanimous); Revised practice assessments and cut scores — adopted (motion carried); Chapter 23 amendments (civic-event absence) — adopted (unanimous).

What happens next: The revised assessments and cut scores take effect Sept. 1, 2025; the chapter 23 amendments align district attendance policies with the statutory allowance for one state‑excused civic‑event absence per school year.