Rutgers University researchers have identified key strategies that contributed to educational success during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their findings, drawn from a study commissioned by the New Jersey Department of Education in 2023, highlight innovation, empathy, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion as critical factors.
At Cedar Creek Elementary in Lacey Township, N.J., initiatives like “Little Lion Helpers” provided role models for autistic peers. Gateway Regional High School in Woodbury Heights offered a “comfort closet” with donated formal wear for students in need. Meanwhile, Reeds Road School in Galloway provided free English classes to parents of multilingual learners through the Latino Family Literacy Project.
Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, approximately 15% of New Jersey schools reported increased student proficiency in math or English. Rutgers University-New Brunswick and Rutgers University-Newark's Promising Practices Project explored these successes across 52 schools where testing proficiency rates exceeded expectations.
Led by Elizabeth Cooner from the New Jersey State Policy Lab at Rutgers-New Brunswick and Charles Payne and Vandeen Campbell from the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers-Newark, researchers examined whether instructional practices were innovative and effective during the pandemic.
The research highlighted several consistent themes: supportive school cultures, meaningful relationships among staff, students and families, professional learning opportunities for teachers, and high expectations for all students. The most successful schools were responsive to underserved groups including Black and Hispanic students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and those from low-income households.
According to the findings, promising practice schools scored about 10 points higher in English and math compared to typical New Jersey schools overall. Teachers utilized data-driven personalized learning approaches and collaborated with families to support student progress while emphasizing college readiness and social-emotional development.
“The pandemic sparked intense professional collaboration, strengthened ties with families and elevated social-emotional learning,” said Elizabeth Cooner.
Importantly, the study included diverse districts serving students of color, English learners, and those receiving free or reduced lunch. This comes amidst challenges such as budget cuts and political backlash against diversity initiatives.
“We’re in the middle of a storm,” Cooner noted regarding threats to equity-focused education policies at governmental levels.
New Jersey remains a leader in education quality; U.S. News & World Report ranked it No. 1 nationwide as of May 2025 based on various metrics including K-12 test scores and college graduation rates.
The research underscores that diverse, inclusive school communities enhance learning outcomes significantly. Charles M. Payne emphasized that strong school cultures where formative data informs teaching are crucial for student success.
Vandeen Campbell added that community elements like values and staffing are more influential than student composition alone when it comes to educational attainment.
