Board certifies five districts after interim reviews; members note many districts remain uncertified

Department officials told the State Board that executive county superintendents completed 37 NJCUSAC interim reviews and recommended certification for five districts. The list read into the record identified three districts in Gloucester County (listed in the packet as "Winona Borough School District," "Elk Township School District," and "Pittman Borough School District"), one district in Somerset County (South Bound Brook Public School District) and one in Union County (Mountainside School District). The board voted to certify the five districts; one board member abstained for the record, noting personal ties to Pittman.

During discussion board members expressed concern about the number of uncertified districts. Members exchanged figures during the meeting (speakers referenced 32 and then 34 districts that had not met certification thresholds); one board member noted that 21 districts were within five points of the cutoff and another said 25 districts were within 10 points. An executive office official said the interim reviews used data that did not reflect the newest assessment scores and predicted the number of certified districts would change when new data are considered.

President Goldenberg called the motion; the board approved certification by voice vote with one abstention. The Department said districts that were not certified will have follow-up interim reviews in six months and that staff will continue to support districts through the NJCUSAC process.