@wakeupcallnj.bsky.social
Looking for something to read over the holiday weekend? Catch up on our latest newsletters! From school district’s strategic plans to remedial math courses in college, these are the stories that deserve your attention. View the archive and subscribe here:
www.wakeupcallnj.com/newsblast
www.wakeupcallnj.com/newsblast
November 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Looking for something to read over the holiday weekend? Catch up on our latest newsletters! From school district’s strategic plans to remedial math courses in college, these are the stories that deserve your attention. View the archive and subscribe here:
www.wakeupcallnj.com/newsblast
www.wakeupcallnj.com/newsblast
Early math learners need a strong foundation in basic facts. Teachers caught in curriculum wars know this. Parents understand it. This @bloombergopinion piece makes the case for evidence-based direct instruction. #NJ can become a positive example of this practice:
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
For Too Many American Kids, Math Isn’t Adding Up
Math scores in the US have been so bad for so long that teachers could be forgiven for trying anything to improve them. Unfortunately, many of the strategies they’re using could be making things worse...
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Early math learners need a strong foundation in basic facts. Teachers caught in curriculum wars know this. Parents understand it. This @bloombergopinion piece makes the case for evidence-based direct instruction. #NJ can become a positive example of this practice:
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Go beyond the times tables to put Thanksgiving dinner on the table with this math challenge. 2-digit multiplication, much like time accounting, is a critical skill for success in school and beyond. Get more Math Checkups to keep your student on track on our website: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups
November 24, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Go beyond the times tables to put Thanksgiving dinner on the table with this math challenge. 2-digit multiplication, much like time accounting, is a critical skill for success in school and beyond. Get more Math Checkups to keep your student on track on our website: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups
More than half of 3rd grade students in #NJ are below grade level. It’s a big problem today. It will be a bigger problem in the future. But it’s not too late for us to change course. Read this study from @caldercenter.bsky.social to learn more:
caldercenter.org/publications...
caldercenter.org/publications...
November 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
More than half of 3rd grade students in #NJ are below grade level. It’s a big problem today. It will be a bigger problem in the future. But it’s not too late for us to change course. Read this study from @caldercenter.bsky.social to learn more:
caldercenter.org/publications...
caldercenter.org/publications...
Grade inflation isn’t just an issue in NJ elementary and secondary schools. The problem is prevalent across most colleges… even Harvard. Let’s make sure we correct this path - starting at early ages, at home, and in schools in #NJ:
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
Harvard Says It’s Handing Out Too Many A’s. Students Are Fighting Back.
A report from the Ivy League school found rampant grade inflation. But students complain the administration is moving the goal posts.
www.wsj.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Grade inflation isn’t just an issue in NJ elementary and secondary schools. The problem is prevalent across most colleges… even Harvard. Let’s make sure we correct this path - starting at early ages, at home, and in schools in #NJ:
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
As standardized test scores have deteriorated, grade point averages have risen. This disconnect creates a perception gap for students and families. Parents deserve to know how their children are actually doing. Let’s do right by our students.
fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...
fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...
November 19, 2025 at 3:54 PM
As standardized test scores have deteriorated, grade point averages have risen. This disconnect creates a perception gap for students and families. Parents deserve to know how their children are actually doing. Let’s do right by our students.
fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...
fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...
What do plummeting test scores actually mean? 8% lower lifetime earnings for the average student. But it’s not to late to turn this around. #NJ can, and must, lead the way. Learn more in this @the74.bsky.social article:
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
cc @excelined.bsky.social
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
cc @excelined.bsky.social
www.the74million.org
November 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
What do plummeting test scores actually mean? 8% lower lifetime earnings for the average student. But it’s not to late to turn this around. #NJ can, and must, lead the way. Learn more in this @the74.bsky.social article:
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
cc @excelined.bsky.social
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
cc @excelined.bsky.social
This 3rd-grade standard was featured in a UC San Diego report. You don’t want your child to be taking remedial elementary math classes in college. Use our Math Checkups to make sure they’re on grade-level: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups
View the report UCSD here: senate.ucsd.edu/media/740347...
View the report UCSD here: senate.ucsd.edu/media/740347...
November 17, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This 3rd-grade standard was featured in a UC San Diego report. You don’t want your child to be taking remedial elementary math classes in college. Use our Math Checkups to make sure they’re on grade-level: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups
View the report UCSD here: senate.ucsd.edu/media/740347...
View the report UCSD here: senate.ucsd.edu/media/740347...
Needing to take remedial courses has a large negative effect on the likelihood of graduating college on time as well as future earnings. Furthermore, only 10% of NJ grads took this test. If this is how our top performers are doing, we’re failing to give our students the education they deserve.
November 14, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Needing to take remedial courses has a large negative effect on the likelihood of graduating college on time as well as future earnings. Furthermore, only 10% of NJ grads took this test. If this is how our top performers are doing, we’re failing to give our students the education they deserve.
UCSD faculty sounds the alarm with a new report about the math preparation crisis. And it’s not just happening in California. It’s happening in #NJ. Read more in @insidehighered:
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
UC San Diego Sees Students’ Math Skills Plummet
The number of first-year students at the University of California, San Diego, whose math skills fall below a middle school level has increased nearly 30-fold over the past five years, according to a n...
www.insidehighered.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:41 PM
UCSD faculty sounds the alarm with a new report about the math preparation crisis. And it’s not just happening in California. It’s happening in #NJ. Read more in @insidehighered:
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
Students need critical thinking skills for both their future and their daily life. So check in on your own child’s reasoning with this multi-step problem! You can get more helpful practice on our Math Checkups page: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups
November 10, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Students need critical thinking skills for both their future and their daily life. So check in on your own child’s reasoning with this multi-step problem! You can get more helpful practice on our Math Checkups page: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups
In #NJ, statewide test results are released seven months after students take the test. Wouldn’t it make more sense for educators and everyone to have access to this information before the school year begins? Learn more: statetestscoreresults.substack.com/p/ela-and-ma...
November 7, 2025 at 1:13 PM
In #NJ, statewide test results are released seven months after students take the test. Wouldn’t it make more sense for educators and everyone to have access to this information before the school year begins? Learn more: statetestscoreresults.substack.com/p/ela-and-ma...
This report from Learning Heroes leans upon 10 years of research and leading voices in education.
The results are clear. When families are centered as true partners, students succeed.
Collaboration requires honesty. We owe #NJ students at least that much.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBwi...
The results are clear. When families are centered as true partners, students succeed.
Collaboration requires honesty. We owe #NJ students at least that much.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBwi...
Centering Families in the Future of Education: Insights & Perspectives From 10 Years of Research
YouTube video by Learning Heroes
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:30 PM
This report from Learning Heroes leans upon 10 years of research and leading voices in education.
The results are clear. When families are centered as true partners, students succeed.
Collaboration requires honesty. We owe #NJ students at least that much.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBwi...
The results are clear. When families are centered as true partners, students succeed.
Collaboration requires honesty. We owe #NJ students at least that much.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBwi...
You wouldn’t wait months for the result of a medical test. Yet across the country, we don’t receive data from statewide assessments for more than half a year. @chadaldeman.bsky.social makes the case for a timely standard in this guest post for our newsletter:
www.wakeupcallnj.com/newsblast/st...
www.wakeupcallnj.com/newsblast/st...
State Test Results Are Too Slow — Wake Up Call NJ
Our guest contributor today, Chad Aldeman, shares critical information and his own perspective as a parent on the delay in 2025 state test reporting. Can you guess which state is among the 16 that had...
www.wakeupcallnj.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:02 PM
You wouldn’t wait months for the result of a medical test. Yet across the country, we don’t receive data from statewide assessments for more than half a year. @chadaldeman.bsky.social makes the case for a timely standard in this guest post for our newsletter:
www.wakeupcallnj.com/newsblast/st...
www.wakeupcallnj.com/newsblast/st...
“This isn’t some wonky technical issue” writes @deniseforte.bsky.social for @the74.bsky.social.
Read more about the implications of this waiver system for #NJ and all students in the US:
www.the74million.org/article/givi...
Read more about the implications of this waiver system for #NJ and all students in the US:
www.the74million.org/article/givi...
Giving States Waivers From Accountability Is a Dangerous Step Backward for Kids
Forte: By loosening testing and reporting requirements, Education Department is denying parents, teachers and policymakers important information.
www.the74million.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
“This isn’t some wonky technical issue” writes @deniseforte.bsky.social for @the74.bsky.social.
Read more about the implications of this waiver system for #NJ and all students in the US:
www.the74million.org/article/givi...
Read more about the implications of this waiver system for #NJ and all students in the US:
www.the74million.org/article/givi...
Use this brainteaser to practice fractions with your kids, and gauge their progress in math this year. You can help them further grow their skills with Math Checkups on our website - view the whole inventory here: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups
November 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Use this brainteaser to practice fractions with your kids, and gauge their progress in math this year. You can help them further grow their skills with Math Checkups on our website - view the whole inventory here: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups
#NJ's education spending nearly leads the nation. We should demand the same high level of achievement for all students. It's crucial that everyone running for state office has the facts about student performance. Learn more from @chadaldeman.bsky.social: www.chadaldeman.com/p/thank-good...
October 31, 2025 at 2:39 PM
#NJ's education spending nearly leads the nation. We should demand the same high level of achievement for all students. It's crucial that everyone running for state office has the facts about student performance. Learn more from @chadaldeman.bsky.social: www.chadaldeman.com/p/thank-good...
Recognizing the success of past reforms shows what’s possible for #NJ and the U.S. in the decades ahead. @michaelpetrilli.bsky.social helpfully highlights the methods that led to the achievements of the 90s and aughts in this article for @the74.bsky.social:
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
The Remarkable Educational Attainment Gains of the School Reform Era
Petrilli: The declines in student performance since 2013 are real, and distressing. But they came on the heels of 2 decades of remarkable progress.
www.the74million.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Recognizing the success of past reforms shows what’s possible for #NJ and the U.S. in the decades ahead. @michaelpetrilli.bsky.social helpfully highlights the methods that led to the achievements of the 90s and aughts in this article for @the74.bsky.social:
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
www.the74million.org/article/the-...
A good strategic plan provides not only goals, but specific measures and methods to achieve those goals. Yet many school districts in #NJ don’t have a public-facing strategic plan. Here’s what we can learn from the best plans to help all our students succeed:
mailchi.mp/wakeupcallnj...
mailchi.mp/wakeupcallnj...
October 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
A good strategic plan provides not only goals, but specific measures and methods to achieve those goals. Yet many school districts in #NJ don’t have a public-facing strategic plan. Here’s what we can learn from the best plans to help all our students succeed:
mailchi.mp/wakeupcallnj...
mailchi.mp/wakeupcallnj...
23 states can track how their ELA and math scores have recovered from 2019. New Jersey isn’t one of them. Full state results *still* haven’t been released. When will educators, parents - and most of all -students get the transparency they deserve?
statetestscoreresults.substack.com/p/ela-and-ma...
statetestscoreresults.substack.com/p/ela-and-ma...
ELA & Math Proficiency Changes Post-Pandemic
A follow-up look at 23 states
statetestscoreresults.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
23 states can track how their ELA and math scores have recovered from 2019. New Jersey isn’t one of them. Full state results *still* haven’t been released. When will educators, parents - and most of all -students get the transparency they deserve?
statetestscoreresults.substack.com/p/ela-and-ma...
statetestscoreresults.substack.com/p/ela-and-ma...
In math, there are multiple paths to one correct answer. Don’t just ask your student this question, ask them how they solved it. Talking through their approach will help build the math fluency they need to succeed. Get more practice on our Math Checkups page: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups
October 27, 2025 at 1:50 PM
In math, there are multiple paths to one correct answer. Don’t just ask your student this question, ask them how they solved it. Talking through their approach will help build the math fluency they need to succeed. Get more practice on our Math Checkups page: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups
With this misplaced priority from many media outlets, it’s no surprise that too many parents are in the dark about how students are truly performing. Let’s use this data from @bellwetherorg.bsky.social to demand better, starting at home in #NJ:
bellwether.org/publications...
bellwether.org/publications...
October 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
With this misplaced priority from many media outlets, it’s no surprise that too many parents are in the dark about how students are truly performing. Let’s use this data from @bellwetherorg.bsky.social to demand better, starting at home in #NJ:
bellwether.org/publications...
bellwether.org/publications...
The strategic plan of Belvidere School District provides an exemplary level of detail. Visualizing critical academic outcomes provides instant clarity on how the students are progressing. Read more in this report from the New Jersey Policy Institute:
newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...
newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...
October 23, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The strategic plan of Belvidere School District provides an exemplary level of detail. Visualizing critical academic outcomes provides instant clarity on how the students are progressing. Read more in this report from the New Jersey Policy Institute:
newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...
newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...
Thanks to Montclair Local and Matt Kadosh for interviewing us to help introduce the problem we're striving to solve to more residents of Montclair. We can absolutely fix this and help every student succeed. And we absolutely must!
With significant ad buys in local media and on social media, along with storefront flyers and bright advertising on box trucks, a NJ advocacy group that says it “educates public school parents” about their kids’ schools is raising questions.
montclairlocal.news/2025/10/scho...
montclairlocal.news/2025/10/scho...
Schools Crunching Numbers After 'Wake Up Call NJ' Floods Montclair with Education Ads
Wake Up Call NJ says that 38% of local fourth graders “can’t do math at grade level,” a number that is based state standardized test scores for the 2023-24 academic year.
montclairlocal.news
October 22, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Thanks to Montclair Local and Matt Kadosh for interviewing us to help introduce the problem we're striving to solve to more residents of Montclair. We can absolutely fix this and help every student succeed. And we absolutely must!
In addition to setting ambitious and measurable goals for academic achievement, Ramsey School District also built a public-facing dashboard tracking these proficiency indicators. Read more in this review of 50 school districts' strategic plans:
newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...
newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...
October 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
In addition to setting ambitious and measurable goals for academic achievement, Ramsey School District also built a public-facing dashboard tracking these proficiency indicators. Read more in this review of 50 school districts' strategic plans:
newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...
newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...