skip to main content skip to main navigation
Photo of students attending a CASE lesson at their High School - Click to enlarge
For Immediate Release: July 28, 2011
Contact: Lynne Richmond
(609) 633-2954

(TRENTON) – Rutgers University and Northern Burlington Regional High School along with The New Jersey Department of Agriculture will host an 80-hour training course for high school teachers from around the country August 1 through 11 in Burlington County to prepare them to teach a rigorous, academic hands-on course to agriculture students.

Nineteen teachers are registered to attend the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) Institute at Northern Burlington County Regional High School in Columbus, from as far away as Oregon.  The  participants will become certified to teach “Principles of Agricultural Science – Plant” course and will be provided the curriculum and  practical experience to teacher the course upon completion of the eleven day session.

“We are pleased to be hosting this CASE Institute because we are firmly committed to making CASE available in as many schools as possible,” said Secretary Fisher.  “Those entering the agriculture industry today need those science and math skills to succeed in college and the job market.”

CASE is an instructional system that provides intense teacher professional development and curriculum that is changing the culture of agriculture programs, in our state and country.  The CASE Program includes courses and lessons that build on each previous course/lesson coupled with inquiry-based lesson delivery style, leading students to a higher understanding of big-picture science, technology, engineering and math concepts in agriculture. 

“High-quality professional development is an important factor in making sure all kids are college- and career-ready,” said Acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf.  “We are excited to support this initiative to set a high bar for agricultural education in New Jersey and across the country.”

New Jersey has 13 schools offering CASE courses, including Introduction to Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Principles of Agricultural Science - Plant and Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal.

Earlier this year, the Department of Agriculture awarded $7,800 grants to each of 10 agricultural education programs to support the professional development of the teachers, implement new CASE agriculture courses at the school and upgrade the learning environment or equipment to teach the courses.  Receiving the grants were:  Allentown High School; Cumberland Regional High School; Essex County Vocational Technical School; Hackettstown High School; Northern Burlington County Regional High School; Ocean County Vocational Technical School; Somerset Vocational Technical School; South Hunterdon Regional High School; Sussex County Vocational Technical School; and Union County Vocational Technical High School. 

For more information about New Jersey’s agricultural education program in the Department of Agriculture, visit www.jerseyageducation.nj.gov/.

For more information about the CASE program, visit www.jerseyageducation.nj.gov/agriculture/ag_ed/classroom/case.html and  www.case4learning.org.