As summer winds down, the 2025-26 school year has arrived. Some North Jersey districts started classes as early as Aug. 25.

While first day jitters and back-to-school shopping typically remain the same, kicking off a new school year often comes with changes.

The start of the 2024-25 school year brought several changes and new programs from revisions to the state learning standards for English language arts to additional preschool funding, unprecedented access to mental health support and more.

The upcoming school year also includes some new developments as North Jersey students make their way back into the classroom.

New standardized testing in NJ

From April through May 2026, New Jersey students in grades 3-9 will take the new adaptive learning assessment test in English language

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