Office of Education

The Office of Education provides intensive 12-month educational services and supports to children and young adults ages 3 through 21. The uniqueness of their needs requires a different environment from the public-school setting. A successful return to school and participation in community life are goals for all OOE students.

Project TEACH (Teen Education and Child Health) offers a year-round, healing-centered education program for parenting and expecting teens. It involves both mothers and fathers in a school environment to support their transition back to community schools. Their children are cared for on-site in a licensed nursery and engage in parenting classes and activities alongside their parents throughout the day.  

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The TEC program (Transitional Education Centers) is an alternative school designed for students ages 13 to 21 struggling with school. It offers a comprehensive education that empowers students through small classes, low student-to-teacher ratios, personalized instruction, cultural and life skills activities, group and individual counseling, and adult transitional planning. These features provide students with the opportunity to succeed academically.

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These state and federally compliant education programs are designed for students who:

Are pregnant/parenting teens (programs are available for infant/toddlers of parenting teens).
Exhibit severe cognitive, physical, behavioral and emotional disabilities;
Exhibit a variety of moderate to severe learning differences;
Are in need of additional resources to be successful at school; and/or regular and special education programs are individually designed and provided to these students in the least restrictive environment.

Our students are served in:

Residential facilities overseen by/contracted with DCF's Child Protection and Permanency and Children's System of Care, as well as the Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health Services;
14 DCF Regional Schools, and two hospital-based satellite programs operated by the OOE including: TEC (Transitional Education Centers) programs for at-risk youth and TEACH (Teen Education and Child Health) programs for pregnant and parenting teens with licensed day care centers for the infants/toddlers of the parenting teens; and
A variety of public and private community-based programs.

The OOE also serves students who have no NJ District of Residence as determined by the NJ Department of Education (DOE). These state-responsible students are placed in public, private and state facility school settings according to their individual educational needs.
Educational services include: regular and special education programs, Child Study Team services, related services, educational surrogates, and instructional and assistive technology services.

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