Oxford Central School

N.J. is completely overhauling how it tests students. Teachers say they were blindsided. New Jersey schools will begin using a new kind of “adaptive” statewide standardized test next spring that will include a computer selecting the questions based on each student’s previous responses. New Jersey Department of Education officials surprised many educators and advocates this week when they announced the debut of the new version of the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments — or NJSLA — tests.

New NJSLA-Adaptive

Empowering Educators:
Reclaiming Our Time
An initiative to reduce administrative burden through Systems Thinking and AI, giving our teachers more time to teach.

The Challenge: A Crushing Time Burden
Our analysis shows that teachers are dedicating a significant portion of their work week to non-instructional, administrative tasks. This valuable time could be redirected towards student-centric activities.
10-12
Hours Per Week
Spent on administrative work, per teacher.
Weekly Workload Distribution (Approx.)


Our Two-Part Solution
We are tackling this problem from two angles: fundamentally changing how we think about our work and leveraging powerful technology to automate it.
🧠 Systems Thinking (DSRP)
We will use the DSRP (Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, Perspectives) framework to transform how we approach administrative requirements. This is about working smarter, not harder, by re-evaluating the systems and processes that create the burden.
"Things change when thinking changes."
🤖 AI-Powered Tools
We will deploy a suite of AI tools to automate and streamline documentation, communication, and assessment processes. This lets technology handle repetitive tasks, freeing up human creativity and expertise for where it's needed most.
"Let's automate the repetitive."


The Goal: Reclaim 7-9 Hours Weekly
Our objective is to dramatically reduce the time spent on administrative tasks, shifting the balance back towards instruction and student engagement.


More Time For What Matters
This initiative will create more space for high-impact professional activities.
✔
Instructional Planning
More time to design creative, engaging, and effective lessons.
✔
Student Feedback & Support
Deeper, more personalized feedback and one-on-one support.
✔
Collaborating with Colleagues
Enhanced ability to share best practices and co-plan.
✔
Professional Growth
Time to invest in new skills and professional development.

Our Implementation Roadmap
This will be a phased rollout with training and support at every step. Your participation and feedback are crucial to our success.
SUMMER 2025
Phase 1: Foundation Building
Baseline time measurements and White Belt DSRP training for all staff.
FALL 2025
Phase 2: Initial Implementation
Yellow Belt DSRP training and initial adoption of core AI tools.
WINTER 2025-26
Phase 3: Expanded Implementation
Blue Belt DSRP training and expanded use of the full AI tool suite.
SPRING 2026
Phase 4: Sustainability
Purple Belt training for leadership to ensure long-term success and sharing our results.

The Tools We'll Use
We will leverage a curated set of best-in-class AI tools to support our goals.
SchoolAI-Claude-Gemini-Google NotebookLM-ThinkQuery-OTIS-Etc.