New Jersey City University Awarded $222,000 Grant to Develop Programming for New Jersey’s Educators
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) and its Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education has been awarded a one-year grant in the amount of $222,222 by the New Jersey Department of Education to develop programming for New Jersey’s educators.
The partnership will focus on creating programming for teachers geared towards the development of skills and knowledge for teaching reading and literacy to preschool and elementary school children, and will last through March, 2025.
Lourdes M. Sutton, Ed.D., the Acting Dean of the College of Education, praised the partnership, saying “We are thrilled to have received yet another opportunity to collaborate with our K-12 partners. Working with our partner schools on this project will not only help practicing teachers improve their literacy instruction, which in turn helps our young, early learners be successful, but it also provides opportunities for our faculty to learn from practitioners. Feedback from teachers who are out in the field is invaluable to us. This helps inform our own instruction as we learn from teachers about the current needs of our K-12 learners. These are reciprocal relationships that allow the College of Education to stay current and improve our own pedagogy. Working in collaboration with partner districts is one of the best ways we can help young learners in New Jersey.”
This initiative aims to address critical needs in English Language Arts (ELA) education, including foundational reading skills, comprehension strategies, multicultural literature, and literacy integration across content areas. The project also includes the development of asynchronous professional learning modules to meet statewide professional learning needs.
Through the grant, NJCU and Hudson County partner school districts in Bayonne, Kearny, Jersey City, and Union City, and the Hudson County Schools of Technology, have been invited to appoint an English Language Arts instructional specialist to serve on the Project’s Advisory Group, contributing to various activities aimed at enhancing the project's outcomes. In return, they will gain access to NJCU developed professional learning modules, aiding in the improvement of ELA standards achievement.
Dr. Sutton emphasized the potential impact of this collaboration on ELA standards achievement, both locally and statewide, expressing great enthusiasm for the partnership.
With input from selected partner districts, the Project Team will review and enhance NJCU’s existing Elementary Education program to achieve International Literacy Association national recognition.
The initiative underscores a commitment to supporting teachers in delivering evidence-based instruction and fostering literacy development among elementary students. The collaboration aims to strengthen ELA standards achievement locally and statewide. By engaging in this partnership, our community’s schools stand to benefit from professional development opportunities and resources tailored to enhance ELA instruction, aligning with broader educational objectives.
About NJCU:
New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution of higher learning located in Jersey City, N.J., dedicated to the development of our students, our city, our communities, and our state. We are a game-changing force for our students and have been recognized as one of the top colleges in the nation improving their upward economic mobility. In fact, NJCU has been ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and Top 10 in the nation in the CollegeNET Social Mobility Index for 2023. Whether enrolled in one of our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs at our three locations, NJCU students have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301