New Jersey City University and A. Harry Moore Laboratory School Launch ‘LIFT’ Program in On-Campus Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) and the A. Harry Moore Laboratory School (AHM) formally introduced and launched the A. Harry Moore School Life Independence and Future Transitions (LIFT) program at NJCU’s Grossnickle Hall on October 30 during a grand-opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on the NJCU campus.
Photos (Credit: Paul Gargiulo): https://lightroom.adobe.com/shares/bde5ed2661884e75adead70567ca20ff
NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo and Jason Jusino, the School Principal at A Harry Moore, introduced the program and made special remarks, and student Charity Lewis offered her own reflections on the significance of the new joint partnership. The ceremony was attended by the school’s students, teachers, members of the Jersey City Public School District and NJCU leadership and key stakeholders including New Jersey State Senator Angela McKnight, Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato, and Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea, Jersey City Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey, and Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh.
With the announcement of the Life Independence and Future Transitions (LIFT), NJCU has transformed the first floor of Grossnickle Hall on campus — located adjacent to John F. Kennedy Boulevard and across the street from the full A. Harry Moore School which celebrated its centennial in 2021, to expand and further the decades-long relationship between the university and the special needs school. AHM offers comprehensive academic, therapeutic, pre-vocational and social programs for students classified as Preschool Disabled, Learning and Language Disabled, ABA classes for students with Autism, and Multiply Disabled.
The fully renovated 12,326 square-foot space encompassing the LIFT program is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, featuring five speciality rooms, including a culinary arts room and a consumer and family science room, where students can practice real-life and independent living skills. Additionally, it provides adaptive physical education, career technical education (CTE), a school store where the program’s students will work to gain practical skills, and community-based instruction (CBI) opportunities in Jersey City and on the NJCU campus. This well-rounded approach ensures that eligible students are well-prepared for adulthood. The program is vital as it addresses the unique challenges faced by special needs students.
Additionally, there are four other general classrooms, and the facility has room for future expansion of the program. The LIFT program launched with 37 students and is expected to have up to 48 this school year with potential growth to 60 students during the 2025-26 academic year.
NJCU and AHM have partnered since 1963, when then-Jersey City State College began providing the program instruction through the Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education. AHM has an enrollment of more than 120 students from Hudson, Bergen, and Essex Counties.
Acebo celebrated the expanded relationship with A. Harry Moore School during his welcoming remarks to the overflow crowd in Raines Plaza on campus.
“I am filled with pride to say that through our commitment to A. Harry Moore School, we are celebrating a bold, new step forward in our partnership. This work represents our collective vision and is proof that, when we work together, we can turn challenges into triumphs and risks into renewed commitments. The LIFT Program embodies the spirit of NJCU’s near century-old promise to our community: a promise to stand with, fight for, and lift each other. Together, we are building a foundation that will support generations of students, families, and communities to come.”
“This program is not only a continuation but an evolution. With each skill learned, each barrier overcome, each goal achieved, we are lifting these students towards futures that shine with possibility.”
Jusino echoed those thoughts, saying: “As I believe, "The A.Harry Moore Laboratory School's LIFT program at Grossnickle Hall of NJCU represents a transformative partnership between sending school districts and NJCU that empowers young individuals with special needs to unlock their potential and embrace the future with confidence. Together, we’re not just providing skills; we’re cultivating independence and fostering a community where every student can thrive."
The LIFT program at Grossnickle Hall is a comprehensive initiative designed to empower high school and adult transition students with special needs, aged 15-21, to ensure those with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in a special education setting are well-prepared for adulthood. The LIFT program will equip these students with the tools necessary for a successful transition. The goals include facilitating secure employment, encouraging further educational pursuits, promoting independent living skills, and building confidence and competence in daily life.
The LIFT program offers not only tailored and individualized instruction but also replicates experiences found in a typical high school setting. This includes departmentalizing, which allows students to transition between teachers and classrooms, fostering a more dynamic learning environment.
Leaders in the Jersey City community celebrated the launching of the LIFT program:
Dr. Norma Fernandez, Superintendent of the Jersey City Public Schools district said: “The JCPS is exceptionally grateful for the opportunities NJCU offers our students who are being educated at A. Harry Moore.”
New Jersey State Senator Angela McKnight praised the LIFT program, noting "In our commitment to providing all students a quality, equitable education, the launch of the Life Independence and Future Transitions will be transformative in the lives of these deserving students. Every student, regardless of their abilities, deserves the opportunity to thrive and succeed. It takes a village to raise strong communities, and NJCU and the A. Harry Moore School, and their visionary leadership, are ensuring that together, we are creating an inclusive environment where all children can unlock their full potential."
“I applaud NJCU's partnership with the A. Harry Moore School LIFT Program,” said Hudson County Executive Craig Guy. “A. Harry Moore School is a place where we see kids learn the skills they need to become the best they can be. Hudson County is a better place because of this partnership and I thank all involved for making this a reality.”
Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato said: “This marks an exciting new chapter for our community and our children’s futures. With the launch of the LIFT program at NJCU and the A. Harry Moore Laboratory School, we’re investing in opportunities that support every child’s potential to learn, grow, and succeed. This program reflects our commitment to ensuring that all students, regardless of their abilities, have the resources they need to thrive.”
Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea added: ”I am excited to see the LIFT program open. It is a testimony to the collaboration of the president of NJCU and the principal of A. Harry Moore School, both of whom have a strong commitment to the students. The additional opportunities LIFT will provide to these young men and women will greatly assist them in succeeding in life.”
Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey noted: “The new A. Harry Moore LIFT program at NJCU is an excellent example of how our educational institutions can create and grow programming to best support our students with special needs. NJCU’s commitment to help prepare all students of Jersey City and Hudson County is a testament to their forward-thinking leadership, and shows us the importance of collaboration and commitment to the communities we serve. I applaud Interim President Andy Acebo and Principal Jason Jusino for creating a space where all students can achieve and thrive.”
About the A. Harry Moore School:
A. Harry Moore School, a team-driven, multidisciplinary demonstration and laboratory school, is a professional community of living and learning based on shared leadership, collaborative approaches, and research-based practice. They provide support to its students in developing independent living skills as well as access to academic, physical, therapeutic, social, and emotional growth opportunities so that students may achieve their fullest potential in school and beyond.
About NJCU:
New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, NJCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social mobility, students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301