Falcon Pride!
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Board of Educ. Mtg.
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Board of Educ. Mtg.
If you are interested in your child attending the full-day program five days a week, please review the eligibility requirements and complete the application no later than May 15, 2023.
April 28, 2023: For the ninth year in a row, Jefferson Township Public Schools has earned the BCME award from the NAMM Foundation in recognition of our commitment to K-12 music education excellence across the content areas of general music, instrumental music, vocal music, digital music, piano, ukulele, and guitar.
March 21, 2023: Assuming no additional emergency days will be used for the 2022-2023 School Year, Jefferson Township Public Schools will be closed on the following dates: April 17, May 22, and June 12. If emergency days are used between now and the end of the school year, an updated calendar will be communicated.
March 6, 2023: Full day public pre-K will be available to even more families in Jefferson Township through additional NJDOE Preschool Expansion Aid (PEA) funding. The Jefferson Township Board of Education received notice of PEA funding in excess of $2.7 million which will support nine additional high-quality preschool classrooms.
February 23, 2023: School Year Calendars for both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 have been Board Approved!
Learn how the district plans to reach its goal of being a leader in academic excellence while developing healthy, well rounded, resourceful students who are positive, contributing members of the local and global community.
February 3, 2023: Ms. Widgren and members of the PBSIS committee challenge local businesses to see who can raise the most pennies from February through May!
January 23, 2023: Jefferson Township Public Schools is proud to accept @CollegeBoard's Female Diversity Award for AP Computer Science Principles. Giving female students access to computer science courses is necessary to ensuring gender parity in the industry’s high-paying jobs. Congratulations to Aleyna Storms for her role in earning this honor!
January 11, 2023: On January 3rd, Matthew Millar was recognized for his 12 years of outstanding service to the children and community as a member of the Jefferson Township Board of Education. Thank you, Mr. Millar, for your time and dedication!
November 22, 2022: In response to the nation-wide teacher shortage crisis, Jefferson Township Public Schools is announcing an increase in pay for substitute teachers. Substitutes can now make up to $175/day to work in Jefferson. The JTBOE approved a tiered pay schedule for substitutes based on accrued full days worked in a single school year. The new pay rate, effective 11/22/2022, is as follows:
November 17, 2022: The Jefferson Township Board of Education (JTBOE) is thrilled to announce that our district has been selected as a recipient for funding through the NJDOE Preschool Education Aid (PEA). These funds have been allocated to integrate six high-quality, full-day preschool classrooms right here in Jefferson Township, at no extra cost to taxpayers.
October 3, 2022: The district will be a leader in academic excellence while developing healthy, well-rounded, resourceful students who are positive, contributing members of local and global communities.
August 8, 2022: The Jefferson Township Board of Education (JTBOE) was recently notified of its eligibility to apply for grant funding that would enable the expansion of preschool services for children who are three or four years old before October 1, 2022, and reside in Jefferson Township. If the district’s application is accepted, this funding will allow our district to increase the number of students in a full-day preschool program at no cost to parents.
The Jefferson Township Board of Education was recently awarded additional grant funding enabling the further expansion of preschool services for three- and four-year-old children in our school district. Children who are three or four years old before October 1, 2023 and reside in Jefferson Township are eligible for the program. This funding allows our district to increase the number of students in a full-day preschool program at no cost to parents.
If you are interested in your child attending the full-day program five days a week, please complete this application no later than May 15, 2023.
Students who are currently enrolled in our preschool program are guaranteed a spot next year. Any child not already enrolled in the district’s preschool program who meets the above criteria will be entered into a lottery system due to the limited number of seats we have available. Parents will be notified by May 30, 2023 if their child is selected to participate in the program. Any child not selected for the program will remain on a waiting list in the event there is an opening in the future.
If you have any questions or concerns about the program or timelines, please contact the principal of the school where you reside; Ellen T. Briggs School for Lake Hopatcong or Cozy Lake School for Oak Ridge. You may also visit our Preschool website at www.jefftwp.org/preschool for additional information on this exciting opportunity.
The application process for incoming students will begin around May 1, 2023. Details outlining the criteria for new student eligibility and prioritization will be communicated at that time. Students enrolled in the existing program will receive priority registration.
Please do not use the kindergarten pre-registration form for your potential preschooler at this time.
March 6, 2023 – LAKE HOPATCONG, NJ: Full day public pre-K will be available to even more families in Jefferson Township through additional NJDOE Preschool Expansion Aid (PEA) funding. The Jefferson Township Board of Education received notice of PEA funding in excess of $2.7 million which will support nine additional high-quality preschool classrooms. A high-quality preschool program is defined by a full-day program with a certificated teacher, an aide, and small classes that are inclusive of children with special needs who have an individualized education program.
The announcement of the newly awarded pre-K funds followed Governor Phil Murphy’s 2024 Fiscal Year Budget Address on Tuesday of last week. This news comes amid ongoing budget challenges – Jefferson Township School District’s state aid is being reduced by more than $1.5 million dollars. This represents the sixth year of S-2 cuts totalling more than $33 million to date. While the PEA does not address the issues with the school funding formula, the additional preschool funding is a welcome reprieve from the drastic cuts that the loss of state aid has caused.
Jefferson Township launched Phase I of its expanded preschool program in January of this year. In the fall, the district expects to accommodate more than 200 three- and four-year-olds in the program. The goal for the next two years is to offer free, high-quality, full-day early learning programming to all preschool aged children in Jefferson Township, building a strong foundation for learning and success.
“As a result of this increase in funding, we will be able to provide quality preschool education to more than 200 students of Jefferson. This will undoubtedly provide a solid foundation for our youngest learners with benefits lasting throughout their school careers,” stated Jeanne Howe, Superintendent, upon learning the district will be receiving the funding.
The application process for incoming students will begin around May 1, 2023. Details outlining criteria for new student eligibility and prioritization will be communicated at that time. Students enrolled in the existing program will receive priority registration.
All pre-K classrooms will be located at Ellen T. Briggs and Cozy Lake Elementary Schools. As communicated in November, in order to accommodate the growing number of students, all first grade sections from those schools will relocate to Arthur Stanlick and White Rock Elementary Schools in the fall.
Thank you for your interest in our full-day preschool program. Additional information on our program, including how to apply for the lottery, will be released in the spring. Please continue to check back.
Families enrolled in the existing program need not take any further action. Families interested in one of the 35 additional spots should complete this form to be included in a lottery drawing. The completed form must be received no later than Monday, November 28th. Families who had previously registered to be included in the lottery need not reapply.
Registration requirements:
Student must be a resident of Jefferson Township;
Student must have turned 3 years old before October 1, 2022
Student must have up-to-date immunization records, a completed health history form, and a medical examination form to be completed by a pediatrician or health care provider.
Families will be notified via email of the status of their application by December 2nd.
Families entitled to tuition reimbursement are being contacted separately.
Any questions regarding the program can be directed to the building principals of their respective schools:
Lake Hopatcong: Briggs Elementary School, Mrs. Randi DeBrito rdebrito@jefftwp.org
Oak Ridge: Cozy Lake Elementary School, Dr. Timothy Plotts tplotts@jefftwp.org
The Jefferson Township Board of Education (JTBOE) is thrilled to announce that our district has been selected as a recipient of funding through the NJDOE Preschool Education Aid (PEA). These funds have been allocated to integrate six high-quality, full-day preschool classrooms right here in Jefferson Township, at no extra cost to taxpayers.
The program is scheduled to begin on January 3, 2023. Our staff has been working behind the scenes in anticipation of receiving these funds, hiring staff, and preparing space. Three of these preschool classes will be housed at Cozy Lake Elementary School and three will be located at Ellen T. Briggs Elementary School.
“It is wonderful to be able to expand our preschool program and provide early childhood education to families in our community at no cost to our families,” stated Jeanne Howe, Superintendent, upon hearing our district will be receiving the funding.
The district currently provides tuition-based, half-day general education preschool services to 81 families in Jefferson. The expansion funds will be used to eliminate tuition for existing general education preschool students and convert to a full-day model for all students. We are able to increase services by more than 40% to include approximately 35 additional children from our community in the preschool program. Our hopes for the next 3-5 years are to offer free, high-quality, full-day early learning programming to all three and four-year-olds in Jefferson Township, building a strong foundation for learning and success.
Families enrolled in the existing program need not take any further action. Families interested in one of the 35 additional spots should complete this form to be included in a lottery drawing. The completed form must be received no later than Monday, November 28th. Families who had previously registered to be included in the lottery need not reapply.
Registration requirements:
Student must be a resident of Jefferson Township;
Student must have turned 3 years old before October 1, 2022
Student must have up-to-date immunization records, a completed health history form, and a medical examination form to be completed by a pediatrician or health care provider.
Families will be notified via email of the status of their application by December 2nd.
Families entitled to tuition reimbursement are being contacted separately.
Any questions regarding the program can be directed to the building principals of their respective schools:
Lake Hopatcong: Briggs Elementary School, Mrs. Randi DeBrito rdebrito@jefftwp.org
Oak Ridge: Cozy Lake Elementary School, Dr. Timothy Plotts tplotts@jefftwp.org
31 Route 181
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849
Phone: 973-663-5780Fax: