Future Ready Schools—NJ Collective Impact Success Story

This article presents the creation of Future Ready Schools–New Jersey, a collective impact initiative that engaged hundreds of stakeholders to design a certification framework guiding digital transformation in education. Built on the National Future Ready Framework, it defines clear rubrics and evidence-based indicators for leadership, classroom practice, and technology services. The paper highlights the process, collaboration, and outcomes that shaped New Jersey’s transition toward digital schools and offers insights for administrators and policymakers seeking scalable models for future-ready learning.
A three-stage flow diagram showing progression from Connection to Engagement to Collaboration. Each stage is represented by a box with key actions inside. Connection includes awareness, interactions, recognition, and connection. Engagement includes dialogue, identifying common interests, and determining alignment. Collaboration includes clarifying roles, common action, and mutual reinforcement.

Future Ready Schools—NJ Collective Impact Success Story

Future Ready Schools—NJ: Historia de Éxito de Impacto Colectivo

By: James Lipuma & Cristo León

Blog post about the article by Lipuma & León (2022) published in the AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice, last updated on [October 08, 2025].

Introduction

This paper documents the development of Future Ready Schools—New Jersey as a voluntary, state-sponsored certification program and its transition toward digital schools. Using collective impact and the NSF collaboration framework, the team engaged hundreds of stakeholders to build rubrics and indicators aligned to the National Future Ready Framework across Leadership, Education/Classroom Practice, and Technology Support and Services. The result is a scalable system for self-assessment, planning, and peer review that advances personalized learning statewide.

What Challenge Does the Article Address?

  • Coordinating statewide efforts for educational technology and future readiness.
  • Providing actionable indicators and evidence standards for district and school teams.
  • Building a sustainable community of practice through participatory strategic planning.

What Do We Offer?

The article presents a practical certification and improvement model grounded in collective impact.

  1. Indicator rubrics derived from the National Future Ready Framework.
  2. Processes for evidence gathering, peer review, and continuous planning.
  3. Guidance for leaders, coordinators, and educators to implement personalized learning.

Who Will Benefit from This Work?

  • Superintendents and school leaders seeking structured digital transition pathways.
  • Technology and curriculum teams aligning evidence to statewide indicators.
  • Policy and consortium partners designing collective impact initiatives.

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🔗 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19752.58883

Cite this Paper

Lipuma, J., & León, C. (2022). Future Ready Schools—NJ Collective Impact Success Story.
AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice, 19(2).
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.19752.58883

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19752.58883

ISSN: 1931-6569

Volume: 19 | Issue: 2

Date: July 1, 2022

Publisher: AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice

Rights: All rights reserved

Keywords: collaboration; interdisciplinary; educational leadership; educational technology; future readiness; strategic planning; Colaboración y Convergencia; digital schools

Interested in Exploring or Collaborating?

Are you planning district or statewide Future Ready initiatives?
Share this post, or cite the article to expand the conversation on collective impact and digital schools.

Copyright

© 2022 Lipuma & León. All rights reserved. Distribution subject to publisher policy.

Versión en Español

Future Ready Schools—NJ: Historia de Éxito de Impacto Colectivo

Entrada de blog sobre el artículo de Lipuma y León (2022) publicado en el AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice.

Introducción

Este trabajo describe el desarrollo de Future Ready Schools—New Jersey como programa voluntario de certificación a nivel escolar y su transición hacia escuelas digitales. Con un enfoque de impacto colectivo y el marco de colaboración de la NSF, se construyeron rúbricas e indicadores alineados al National Future Ready Framework en tres temas: Liderazgo, Práctica Educativa en el Aula y Soporte y Servicios Tecnológicos. El sistema permite autoevaluación, planificación y revisión por pares para avanzar el aprendizaje personalizado.

¿Qué problema aborda el artículo?

  • Coordinar esfuerzos estatales para tecnología educativa y preparación futura.
  • Proveer indicadores, evidencias y estándares para equipos escolares y distritales.
  • Consolidar una comunidad de práctica mediante planeación estratégica participativa.

¿Qué aportamos?

  1. Rúbricas de indicadores derivadas del National Future Ready Framework.
  2. Procesos de recolección de evidencias, revisión por pares y mejora continua.
  3. Guías para líderes, coordinadores y docentes que implementan aprendizaje personalizado.

Cita el artículo

Lipuma, J., & León, C. (2022). Future Ready Schools—NJ Collective Impact Success Story.
AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice, 19(2).
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.19752.58883

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