Since 2008, the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey has made a tangible difference for schools and students across New Jersey. Programs funded by ELFNJ, in partnership with the New Jersey School Boards Association, work to advance student achievement and improve school board governance, and in the past year touched on areas ranging from sustainability to school safety. The mission of ELFNJ is to advance public education governance through training, research and attaining grants to further professional development. It does so in partnership with the NJSBA, a federation of the state’s local boards of education. NJSBA’s mission is to provide training, advocacy, and support to advance public education, and promote the achievement of all students through effective governance.
Fueling both organizations are the findings of the Iowa Lighthouse Study, which show that school boards in high-achieving school systems have specific knowledge and beliefs that differ from those in other districts. In other words, effective school board training can advance student learning and achievement.