The current NJ SSI partnership of organizations is a coherent, collaborative planning group for systemic change. This is an unprecedented achievement in our state, which would have been inconceivable without the National Science Foundation (NSF) award. It is this leadership that advances NJ SSI’s mission, with activities ranging from the development of standards and accompanying frameworks, to garnering widespread public support for their adoption; from school-by-school professional development of leadership teams in mathematics and science, to district-based systemic change planning and implementation; from development and implementation of the state’s educational technology plan, to aligning support structures in the business community. The synergy of the partnership–including state government, K-12 leadership, higher education, business and industry, parents and community–extends our impact far beyond the boundaries of NSF-funded activities. For every dollar NSF contributes to mathematics and science reform in the state the extensive partnership leverages an additional $85.

In addition to the Regional Centers and Specialty Sites, listed below are some of the collaborators of NJ SSI and a description of how NJ SSI has collaborated with them to support the improvement of science, mathematics, and technology education in New Jersey.

• Rowan University (http://www.rowan.edu/mcsiip) a regional leader in professional development, strategic planning, and technical assistance for southern NJ schools. Dr. Janet Caldwell serves as Phase II Co-Principal Investigator and is the Director of the NJ SSI Regional Center at Rowan, serving four southern counties and three shore counties in the state.
• Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, The Center for Mathematics, Science, and Computer Education (CMSCE) (http://cmsce.rutgers.edu) coordinates NSF- and state-funded professional development and district-based systemic change and improvement, providing general leadership and strategic planning, operates the Rutgers Distance Learning Research Laboratory, and offers professional development programs. The Graduate School of Education provides professional development for educators in science and mathematics, and works in partnership with key NJ SSI school districts. Dr. Carolyn Maher leads the Regional Center at Rutgers. Rutgers-Newark-Academic Foundations Center and Institute for Research in Urban Education provides expertise to assist urban schools.
• School Districts throughout the state are functioning at various stages of implementation of standards and systemic reform. Dr. Larry Leverett, Superintendent of Plainfield Schools, is a co-chair of the NJ SSI Executive Board.
• Merck Institute for Science Education (MISE)
  (http://www.mise.org/) plays a leadership role in developing the NJ Science Curriculum Standards and Framework, and works intensively with Linden, Rahway, and Readington, in promoting standards-based professional development and districtwide systemic reforms. MISE is also a Local Systemic Initiative (LSC) partner. The Institute Director, Dr. Carlo Parravano, serves as Phase II Co-Principal Investigator. Dr. Parravano has also been appointed by the NJ DOE to the New Jersey Professional Teaching Standards Board, where he has been elected Vice-Chairman.
• New Jersey Mathematics Coalition
  (http://dimacs.rutgers.edu/nj_math_coalition/) is responsible for the New Jersey Mathematics Curriculum Framework, directs the FANS Project, a major parent outreach component of NJ SSI, provides professional development in mathematics, publishes "Are We Measuring Up?" (a report on mathematics education in New Jersey), and collaborates with NJ SSI in policy development.
• New Jersey Commission on Higher Education (http://www.state.nj.us/highereducation) coordinates policy and planning for higher education.
• New Jersey Department of Education (NJ DOE)
  (http://www.state.nj.us/education) leads state-level planning and policy initiatives and administers the Educational Technology Training Center (ETTC) program statewide. Arthur Mitchell and Robert Riehs serve as Co-Principal Investigators for Phase II.

A partial list of additional NJ SSI partners who have contributed to the reform of mathematics, science, and technology education in New Jersey’s schools include the following organizations:

• Association of Mathematics Teachers of New Jersey
  
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
  
• E=MC²
  
• Johnson & Johnson
  
• National Starch and Chemical Foundation
  
• New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research
  
• New Jersey Association of School Administrators
  
• New Jersey Education Association
  
• New Jersey Educational Technology Training Centers
  
• New Jersey Mathematics Coalition
  
• New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association
  
• Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
  
• Public Service Electric and Gas Company
  
• Verizon
  
  
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