Wake Up Call New Jersey

90% of US students are in a worse spot than in 2019. Math scores for the lowest-performing students have fallen farther since 2022. These missing fundamental skills will impact individual earning potential and society at large. This is an urgent moment for your child and every student in NJ and across the US. Talk to your teachers, administrators and school boards to learn how you can prioritize, measure, and support academic achievement - together. Solving this will take sustained effort from all corners. Gain more insights in the 2026 State of the Student Report from @CRPE_edu: stateofthestudent.crpe.org/#…

When parents can’t trust the grades sent home, how can they help their child gain the math and reading skills they need? In NJ, the problem of grade inflation is exacerbated by the slow return of standardized test scores that could otherwise alert families to learning gaps. @KelseyTuoc makes a case for common sense grading reform in @TheArgumentMag: theargumentmag.com/p/im-with…

These policy recommendations include teacher supports such as mandating PD and Math Coaches, common-sense practices such as selecting High-Quality Instructional Materials and devoting 60 minutes of daily classroom time to math, and family collaboration such as Math-at-Home Plans and parent notifications of assessment results. That’s a lot of opportunities to leave on the table at a time when NJ students are falling behind. Learn more at: mathmatters.org/state/new-je…

Test scores were already declining before COVID. But academic recovery since then has been slow and uneven. While the top 10% performing students have improved math scores since 2022, the opposite has been true for the lowest 10%. Math skills are cumulative, and a gap in the foundation of early grades will only grow over time. This urgent 2026 State of the Student Report from @CRPE_edu should be yet another wake-up call. Will you help raise the alarm to the NJ leaders who are in the position to do something about it? the74million.org/article/onl…

Make math a treat for your student with this multi-step question, then get more Math Checkups to gauge your child’s math progress on our site: wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckup…

For a state that prides itself on its education system (and spending), why does NJ set a lesser standard for high-school graduation than a national exam? This lowered expectation stops students from reaching their full potential - and leaves them unprepared for college. Learn more about the systemic causes of the math remediation crisis at Rutgers in this report from @StudentSuccess: weareallsolvers.org/nj/

Explicit instruction doesn’t prevent project-based learning or stifle students' curiosity: it enables it. When students gain a firm understanding and comfort of the foundational skills from their teacher’s demonstration and instruction, they’re empowered to reach their full potential. Read more of this educator’s experience in @ChalkbeatNY: chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/0…

As more parents become aware of the reality of the disconnect between grades and actual skills gained, some would prefer to keep families in the dark. Learn more about the good, the bad, and the shrug-ly responses from different education systems in our latest newsblast: mailchi.mp/wakeupcallnj/mind…

“Every graduate should leave with a clear path forward—whether that is two- or four-year college or trade, technical, or vocational training.” Former Education Secretaries put forth a common-sense argument for setting honest goals and faithfully executing the strategies that will help students reach those benchmarks in this joint op-ed for @educationweek: edweek.org/policy-politics/o…

From soup to nuts, from orchard to oven, your kid needs math skills to flourish and grow. Get more Math Checkups to gauge your child’s math progress on our site: wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckup…

Grade inflation doesn’t serve students. It leaves gaps in their skills that they otherwise might improve. Let’s push for transparency, and the action that results from honest assessment. the74million.org/article/par…

Kudos to California for addressing math problems as early as possible. Kindergartner, 1st grade, and 2nd grade students will now receive annual assessments that can inform the use of tutoring and other supports - and the law also mandates that parents are informed of their child’s results. Since math builds cumulatively, identifying a student’s struggles at a younger age is absolutely essential. With the largest education system in the country is implementing this measure, curriculum companies will make far more resources that other states - hello, New Jersey! - can utilize. As always, policy is one step. Implementation is the real key to success. We’ll be rooting for a consistent and comprehensive rollout in the Golden State, and to learn from it in the Garden State. Learn more in @educationweek: edweek.org/teaching-learning…

The school year is now well underway and your child’s teacher has most likely completed some pre-assessments. Those tests can indicate key gaps and areas of opportunity for you to support and challenge your child in. Show your educators you care and build a working relationship to help your student reach their full potential. Get more helpful questions to guide these essential conversations at: wakeupcallnj.com/questionsfo…

Real accountability can produce real results. But the common-sense policy needs consistent implementation and true commitment across school and state systems. Transparency can be uncomfortable, acknowledges @JebBush in this article for @The74. But it’s the only approach that serves the best interests of students. Read more: the74million.org/article/tru…

Branch out with this question, then get more Math Checkups to gauge your child’s math progress on our site: wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckup…

While the awareness gap has improved, grade inflation is still a real problem that prevents parents from taking necessary action to help their student reach their true academic potential. Parents trust report cards. That trust shouldn’t be betrayed. Dive into the current state of education from parents' perspective in this report from Learning Heroes: bealearninghero.org/wp-conte…

While parents consistently rate their own child’s education much more favorably than education in the U.S. overall, both measures have hit new lows. Perhaps this can be attributed to a growing awareness that good grades do not guarantee a student is actually gaining the math and reading skills they need to succeed. Admitting there’s a problem is the first step to getting involved and fixing those learning gaps. Let’s step up and give students in NJ and across the US the education they deserve. news.gallup.com/poll/714017/…

In our latest newsblast, we reflect on what Nikole Hannah-Jones' experience indicates for every parent navigating an education system that often prioritizes students feeling good over performing well: mailchi.mp/wakeupcallnj/nhj-…

The awareness gap may be shrinking. In a new survey from @BeALearningHero, 83% of parents believe their child is at or above grade level in math. 4 years ago, 92% believed the same. That still leaves millions of families misinformed about the reality of their students' academic achievement. But the growing recognition of this problem should encourage us all, because when parents know there’s an issue, they act differently and urgently to address it. This includes being more likely to talk to their student’s teacher, request additional support, and find a tutor. Let’s take this relatively good news as an invitation to continue pushing for better. Every parent and student deserve transparency about academic performance. the74million.org/article/par…