New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 6A - EDUCATION
Chapter 30 - EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Subchapter 1 - PURPOSE, SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS
Section 6A:30-1.1 - Purpose and scope

(a) The chapter's purpose is to establish rules to implement the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) system, as required by N.J.S.A. 18A:7A-3 et seq., for evaluating and monitoring all school districts in the State. NJQSAC is designed to be a single, comprehensive accountability system that consolidates and incorporates the monitoring requirements of applicable State and Federal programs. NJQSAC is also intended to complement, and serve in part to implement, Federal requirements. Under NJQSAC, school districts are evaluated in five key component areas of school district effectiveness -- instruction and program, personnel, fiscal management, operations, and governance --to determine the extent to which school districts are providing a thorough and efficient education. The standards and criteria by which school districts are evaluated will assess actual achievement, progress toward proficiency, local capacity to operate without State intervention, and the need for State support and assistance. Once a school district is identified under NJQSAC as requiring assistance in one or more of the five areas of school district effectiveness, the Department and the school district will work collaboratively to improve school district performance in the targeted areas. The measures used to achieve this goal include Department evaluations of the school district, development of a district improvement plan, close monitoring of the implementation of the district improvement plan, and the provision of technical assistance, as appropriate. If a school district fails to develop or implement a district improvement plan as required, or other emergent circumstances warrant, NJQSAC allows the Department to seek partial or full intervention in the school district to effect the change(s) necessary to build school district capacity to provide a thorough and efficient education.

(b) This chapter sets forth the steps the Department will undertake to implement N.J.S.A. 18A:7A-3 et seq., which include a three-year evaluation process, placement of the school district on a performance continuum, improvement and intervention activities, and periodic progress monitoring.

(c) The rules shall apply to all school districts in the State as defined in N.J.S.A. 18A:8-1 et seq. and 18A:13-1 et seq., with the exception of charter schools and educational services commissions, and shall include county vocational school districts established pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:54-1 et seq., with the exception of county vocational school districts that provide only shared-time services, and county special services school districts established pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:46-29 et seq.