Just days before the Sherrill-Caldwell administration officially takes the helm of state government, New Jersey Lt. Governor-elect Dale Caldwell visited Central Jersey College Prep Charter School (CJCP) to tour its “world-class” tutoring center. The visit, hosted in partnership with the New Jersey Tutoring Corps (NJTC), aimed to showcase how high-impact tutoring is effectively closing pandemic-era learning gaps across the Garden State.
Caldwell’s visit underscores a major policy priority for Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill’s incoming team: expanding educational equity and scaling proven interventions for New Jersey’s 1.4 million public school students.
Founded as a nonprofit response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Jersey Tutoring Corps has seen explosive growth in just three years. The organization has moved from a pilot program to a statewide focal point for evidence-based instruction.
CJCP, the host of the tour, stands as one of the state’s most decorated public schools. Serving a highly diverse student population with a focus on low-income families, the school has achieved a consistent 100% on-time graduation rate for 15 years.
CJCP’s National and State Honors:
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U.S. News & World Report: Ranked as the #1 Public Charter High School in New Jersey.
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U.S. Dept. of Education: Designated as a “National Blue-Ribbon School.”
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NJ Dept. of Education: Awarded “Tier 1” status—the state’s highest ranking for charter schools.
“Dr. Caldwell’s expertise in education and vision for the future provided an important example to our team,” Dr. Namik Sercan, CJCP’s chief education officer said. “We demonstrated that generational change in our public schools is possible when children are given the chance.”
What makes NJTC’s program “world-class”? The organization adheres to strict, research-backed guidelines from the Annenberg Institute to ensure tutoring isn’t just “help,” but a clinical intervention.
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Consistency: The same tutor works with the same small group for the entire cycle.
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Frequency: Sessions occur 2–3 times per week for 30–60 minutes.
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Low Ratios: Instruction is kept to a 1:1 up to 1:4 tutor-to-scholar ratio.
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Embedded integration: Tutors are often present in classrooms during the school day to align directly with state standards.
The visit signals a strong collaborative future between the new executive branch and the state’s education nonprofits. NJTC is funded through a unique public-private partnership involving the Overdeck Family Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, and state-level investment championed by leaders like Senate Majority Leader Ruiz.
“Governor-elect Sherrill and I are committed to supporting and expanding access to high-impact tutoring to address learning loss,” Caldwell said. “Every child deserves access to a high-quality education that will open doors.”
