the state has a lot of ground to make up from covet related learning loss reports and Statewide test scores show staggering losses for New Jersey students the achievement gaps are even wider for black and latinx peers it's why Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz recently introduced a bill to create an office of the learning loss Czar within the executive branch a new position that will be tasked with finding ways to reverse those setbacks and get kids back on track I recently asked Senator Ruiz how it'll work Senator Ruiz what is your vision for a role like this within state government and could someone in this position really make a dent in the learning loss we're dealing with absolutely so partially the bill comes from just a global discussion and I'm going to make an amendment to the bill it doesn't necessarily have to be an individual it could for all intents and purposes be an entity that is going to partner up with the Department of Education and the commissioner to Foster this critical work that we're here when covid hit um in the state of New Jersey and in this country I don't think any policy maker or anyone in government uh said you know we're capable of meeting all of the needs right the important thing was to understand what was it that we could do and do great and where were the spaces where we were missing um opportunities and where do we need other people to come into the folder other agencies or entities to help us deal with a crisis that's facing this data in this country so if it wasn't just a singular person a group let's say would it still be appointed by the governor who would have the jurisdiction over I think you know that it's nuances so I you know I bring up the bill just to keep highlighting the fact that while the the federal government is list is lifting the emergency um pandemic uh policies and everyone is Shifting to a better sense of normality in every single facet of our life that there's still one looming crisis that's facing our children in the state not unique to New Jersey it's something that's critical in facing Most states in this country but one that's prevalent and that is is is very clear one that actually pre-coveted um with the Gap the achievement Gap facing our student population was there and just and it grew substantially during this time process but the difference in the nuances that there is a lot of federal funding that's available at the district level and through the state department so that if we could have someone in place that could harness best practices and say to districts that are in need of lifting up um you know their numbers and securing a better wraparound service for each child that that we that we offer that through the state department I've consistently said this and I think I've shared this with with all of you for me the Department of Education and I said this under almost every single gubernatorial Administration that has existed it should not be a layer of bureaucracy it should be a beacon of opportunity and a space where we can help districts with fact-finding solutions to better support our student population throughout the entire State what is priority number one do you look at specific districts age groups what do you tackle first I think that so this is a conversation that the Tsar would have with the department or a working group I I would love to see this be given the same attention that the pandemic had every single day the administration fostered leaders from different diasporas and different departments to come together to talk about the crisis at hand this is a crisis at hand that we don't deal with now we will be paying out in perpetuity in generations to come Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz thank you so much for your time thank you so much [Music]