TINTON FALLS, N.J. — New Jersey school districts will have access to more live online classes, certified teachers, and academic support services through an expansion of the New Jersey Virtual School, a statewide program designed to help schools offer courses they may struggle to provide on their own.
The Monmouth-Ocean Educational Services Commission (MOESC) has selected Proximity Learning to manage and deliver instruction for the expanded program. The commission’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the partnership on September 23, 2026, and announced the decision on November 2.
The expansion comes as school districts continue to face challenges filling teaching positions, maintaining specialized courses, and meeting the needs of students who require more flexible learning arrangements.
Unlike traditional online courses, where students work independently through recorded lessons and assignments, the expanded program will include live classes taught by New Jersey-certified teachers.
Students will be able to interact with instructors in real time, ask questions, and participate in scheduled lessons, even when the teacher is not physically present in their school building.
More Courses and Support for Students
The New Jersey Virtual School currently offers more than 150 online courses for students in grades 6 through 12, including core academic subjects, electives, and opportunities to recover credits needed for graduation.
Under the new partnership, participating school districts will be able to choose from several instructional options.
These include self-paced courses, Advanced Placement classes, career and technical education opportunities, live virtual instruction, individual tutoring, and home instruction for students unable to attend school in person.
The expanded program will also offer live instruction for kindergarten through 12th-grade students, allowing schools to maintain classes when qualified teachers are unavailable locally.
Districts may combine online and in-person learning depending on student needs, available staff, and the subjects being taught.
Addressing Teacher Shortages
One of the program’s central goals is to help schools maintain instruction when they cannot fill teaching vacancies.
A district struggling to recruit a certified mathematics, science, or foreign-language teacher, for example, could use live virtual instruction rather than canceling a course or leaving students without a subject specialist.
The model also gives smaller districts an opportunity to offer specialized classes that might otherwise be unavailable because too few students enroll to justify hiring a full-time teacher.
MOESC Superintendent Dr. William O. George said the commission wants to preserve New Jersey’s high educational standards while making the virtual school a more useful resource for districts across the state.
The partnership was selected following an evaluation of Proximity Learning’s experience in virtual education, its availability of New Jersey-certified instructors, and its proposed instructional services.
Proximity Learning, an ESS company, has provided live virtual instruction and academic services to schools across the United States for nearly two decades.
What Changes for New Jersey Schools?
The agreement covers the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years, with services available to participating districts based on their needs.
MOESC will continue to oversee the program and maintain relationships with participating districts, while Proximity Learning will manage instructional delivery.
The commission has also announced revised pricing intended to make virtual education more accessible to schools managing limited budgets.
However, the expansion does not mean that every New Jersey student will automatically attend virtual classes or that traditional classroom instruction is being replaced statewide.
Individual school districts will determine whether and how to use the available services.
The initiative represents an additional instructional option for public schools seeking certified teachers, specialized courses, or academic support beyond what they can provide through existing staff.
For students, the most significant change may be the opportunity to take a class with a qualified teacher even when that teacher is hundreds of miles away.
Sources: New Jersey Virtual School, official announcement, November 2, 2026; Monmouth-Ocean Educational Services Commission, October 2026 newsletter; MOESC Board contract records, September 23, 2026.
By NJ RADAR Team