Any parent who’s ever tried to get their kid to a scheduled event on time, in unstained clothes, and free of meltdowns knows that a plan is just that: a plan. Results may vary. But without a plan there won’t be any results at all.
So given students’ alarming decline in math and reading scores, each of New Jersey’s school districts surely has a plan for improving academic achievement.
As if!!
The reality is some school districts don’t even have a publicly available strategic plan. That’s the first issue the New Jersey Policy Institute encountered when assessing the strength of NJ school districts’ strategic plans.
The second, more troublesome trend across the 50 strategic plans NJPI reviewed was a shocking lack of focus on academic outcomes. This was mirrored by a failure to set tangible goals for math and literacy proficiency standards. In many instances, strategic plans didn’t even name academic achievement as a guiding principle - for schools!
Instead, districts were more likely to offer vague, feel-good commitments to concepts such as “grit.” While persistence matters, it’s not easily tied to a measure. Grit is a metric for sandpaper, not students.
According to NJPI’s rubric for assessing strategic plans, most districts scored between just 5 and 10 out of a possible overall score of 20. Leaders, teachers, and parents lack a shared definition of success as well as when to expect those outcomes.
Strategic plans can be one of the most powerful tools districts have. When correctly implemented, they align staff and resources behind the work that matters most. Such plans elevate teacher voices, invite the community into the process, and help school boards and superintendents stay grounded in clear academic priorities.
Too many districts aren’t making the grade on utilizing this obvious, but crucial, lever.
Luckily this is totally within local control, and there are models to follow. Ramsey, Belvidere, Camden City, and Cherry Hill school districts were all recognized by NJPI for setting academic goals as well as clear methods to meet and measure those outcomes. Other districts don’t have to wait for a new law, a federal grant, or a statewide task force to follow suit. Instead, taking this first step to success simply requires bold leadership and thoughtful community involvement.
Let’s make strategic plans public because their stakes are personal. Let’s remember that schools are, first and foremost, about academic achievement.
