At the threshold to the twenty-first century, New Jersey finds itself struggling along with the rest of the nation to educate citizens who will be competitive in the international marketplace of the future.
New Jersey wrestles with a paradox regarding the governance of public education.
This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that each district determines its own curriculum. They describe what all students should know and be able to do upon completion of a thirteen-year public education. These standards are not meant to serve as a statewide curriculum guide. They define the results expected but do not limit district strategies for how to ensure that their students achieve these expectations. To assist local educators, the standards will be further elaborated through curriculum frameworks.