New Jersey is committed to effectively preparing students for life and work in the 21st century. The Secondary Education Redesign Initiative focuses on redesigning middle schools and high schools through action steps and supportive policies that align content standards, assessments and high school graduation requirements with college and workplace expectations. Further, the Policy Report of the New Jersey High School Redesign Steering Committee offers coherent, integrated reform strategies and structures that support students, educators and other members of the education community to assist high schools in graduating students who are college and work ready. The report also includes research and key concepts derived from the America Diploma Project, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and High Schools That Work. While we recognize that many New Jersey school districts have rigorous expectations and high levels of student achievement, secondary education redesign focuses on raising the bar for all students so that every child is prepared for success in a rapidly changing, technologically-driven, globally competitive world. In order to ensure that students succeed in college level courses without remediation, or they are ready to enter the workforce to learn job-specific skills, their preparation must be the same. The Secondary Education Redesign Initiative encompasses grades 6-12 in recognition of the need to provide a strong foundation in the knowledge and skills required for success in high school and to ensure a smooth transition from middle school to high school grades.
