Montclair
Montclair is highly ranked — but the same gaps exist. A well-regarded district that outperforms the state on most measures.
The reputation stats
#47 New Jersey ranking, #5 in Essex County (Niche)
88% of Montclair 11th graders were graduation-ready in ELA vs. 81% statewide
70% of all students met or exceeded ELA expectations vs. 53% statewide
But the gap carries through to graduation readiness by student group:
Economically disadvantaged: 71% graduation-ready vs. 91% of their peers — a 20-point gap
Students with disabilities: 58% graduation-ready vs. 96% of their peers — a 38-point gap
Multilingual learners: too few valid scores to publish a district figure (statewide, only 25% of multilingual learners are graduation-ready)
Montclair is not an under-resourced district, but significant disparities exist for different groups.
District policy requires a librarian. It doesn't have one.
District Policy 2428.1 — Standards-Based Instructional Priorities:
"The school district shall provide library-media services that are connected to classroom studies in each school building... under the direction of a certified school library media specialist."
The timeline:
2019 — the district employs 5 school librarians
2020–24 — reduced to 2 librarians across the district
2025–26 — during the budget crisis, all School Librarian positions are eliminated; 0% of the General Fund is allocated to a school library budget
May 2026 — District Policy & Regulation 2535 is revised to remove reference to a Certified School Library Media Specialist
Montclair joined the over 25% of New Jersey districts with no school librarian.
What peer districts spend
Montclair Township: 0% of a $159 million general fund budget went to school library services in 2026–2027 — and no certified school librarian.
These are all comparable, high-performing districts. The variation between them isn't driven by need or by wealth — it's driven by whether anyone decided to protect the line.
How a program would benefit Montclair
Supports magnet themes and unfunded mandates — a library program adds flexibility to each school's magnet theme while helping meet unfunded state mandates like Gifted & Talented.
Narrows the achievement gaps — three decades of impact studies find the largest gains for the groups furthest behind in Montclair: economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and multilingual learners.
Builds and strengthens community — a physical space for students to meet, read, and collaborate; book clubs and events that bring students together in person.
Takes the pressure off — a room with no grade attached, where reading is chosen, not scored.
Helps write the technology use policy — librarians are trained in digital citizenship, online safety, and student privacy, uniquely positioned to weigh access against overuse.
Leads on information, media, and AI literacy — New Jersey's information literacy law names the school library media specialist as the professional districts must rely on by September 2027.
The proposed five-year plan
A phased plan, reporting to the Board every year:
Phase I (2027–2028): one High School Certified School Librarian (also serving as Head District Librarian & School District Library Program Director), one Assistant Librarian, plus print materials, technology, and subscriptions.
Phase II (2028–2029): one Head Middle School Librarian and one Head Elementary School Librarian, plus additional support staff.
Phase III (2029–2032): one Middle School Librarian and five Elementary School Librarians, plus additional support staff — completing coverage across all eleven schools.
Built on NJDOE, AASL, and IFLA Global standards. Written into district policy. Reported annually to the Superintendent, the Board, and district stakeholders.
The ask
Fully reinstate and develop Montclair Public Schools' School Library Program within five years:
A verbal commitment from the Superintendent and Board of Education — including 2026 election candidates — to include a 5-Year School Library Strategic Plan in the Districtwide Strategic Plan, funded at 1.0–1.5% of total General Fund expense.
Funding behind it in the 2027–2028 budget for Phase I: one High School Certified School Librarian (also Head District Librarian/Program Director), plus one Assistant Librarian.
Why this is a reallocation, not new money: New Jersey already prices a school librarian into what a thorough and efficient education costs. Montclair taxpayers are already funding an adequacy budget that should include school librarians — the district allocated 0% of its $159 million General Fund to school libraries in 2026–27.
What Montclair families can do
Sign the Montclair petition at schoolsneedlibrarians.com and share it with other Montclair parents — signatures from inside the district carry the most weight with the Board.
Raise it to your PTA — your school's PTA, the PTA Council, and SEPAC. NJ PTA has already adopted positions supporting full-time School Librarians.
Email or speak to the Superintendent — ask for a five-year Strategic Plan and Phase I funding in 2027–2028.
Speak at a Board of Education meeting — public comment is on the record and guaranteed a hearing. Speak before the budget vote, not after.
Write an op-ed — for Montclair Local or another community paper, describing what your child's school library does, or what disappeared when the position was cut.
Join the team — sign up at schoolsneedlibrarians.com to help collect signatures and track the district budget.
Sourcine: NJDOE School Performance Reports, Montclair's own District Policy 2428.1 and Policy & Regulation 2535, the Montclair User-Friendly Budget 2026–27, and Niche's district rankings