JerseyCAN, the only statewide advocacy organization in New Jersey committed to ensuring access to high-quality public schools for every child, regardless of zip code, cultural background, and socioeconomic status, announced today that it has formally opened enrollment for the 7th year of its statewide Fellowship programs – JerseyCAN’s Teacher Leader Policy Fellowship and Parent Champions for Strong Schools Fellowship.

JerseyCAN developed each competitive fellowship to foster statewide dialogue and change in education policy, strengthen the voices of the three key constituencies within the state’s education decision-making landscape, and cultivate a strong, connected network of education advocates across New Jersey. Since its inception, the JerseyCAN fellowship program has helped develop over 100 leaders across the state actively involved in education policy decisions and activism. After multiple successful years with its Teacher and Parent Fellowships, JerseyCAN expanded last year to reach students with its newly created JerseyCAN Student Civic Leaders Fellowship. The addition was led in partnership with Samantha Shane, a 2022–23 JerseyCAN Teacher Fellow, who advocated for the third student-focused program to empower public school students by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become effective advocates for issues that directly impact them and their peers.