New Policy Supports Varsity Letters for Esports Participants Across the State

Trenton, NJ — In a landmark decision for the future of scholastic esports in New Jersey, the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Delegate Assembly has officially adopted a resolution recognizing esports as a meaningful form of interscholastic competition. Passed during the Spring Delegate Assembly on May 10, 2025, the resolution encourages local boards of education to use their existing authority to support esports programs and award varsity letters to high school esports participants.

The newly adopted language will be added to File Code 6145.2 – Interscholastic Competition in the NJSBA Manual of Positions and Policies on Education. It states:

“The NJSBA believes that local boards of education should exercise existing statutory authority to revise existing interscholastic competition policies to support the inclusion of esports as a valuable interscholastic competition and to award varsity letters to esports high school participants to the extent they deem appropriate.”

This policy change reflects the growing impact of scholastic esports on student engagement, academic performance, and career readiness. With more than 12,000 students participating in esports programs across 400 schools, Garden State Esports (GSE), New Jersey’s governing body for scholastic esports, welcomes the move as a critical step forward in formal recognition for students and educators.

“We’re incredibly grateful to our longtime member district, Woodbury City Public Schools, and especially to program advisor John DiMarco; President Kathy Mangeri and the Board of Education; Superintendent Andrew Bell; Principal Dwayne Dobbins and the school administration; and student leader Cassandra Gallagher, who testified before the NJSBA Resolutions Subcommittee,” said Chris Aviles, President of Garden State Esports. “Their leadership and advocacy were instrumental in securing this milestone and prove just how powerful scholastic esports has become in transforming student lives and strengthening school communities across New Jersey.”

“This is a major win for students across New Jersey,” added John DiMarco, Esports Program Director at Woodbury Jr./Sr. High School. “Varsity recognition gives our programs the legitimacy they’ve earned. It opens doors to more support, funding, and respect—not just for the games being played, but for the students building skills, forming teams, and representing their schools with pride.”

As districts across the state continue to invest in esports as a tool for inclusion, engagement, and workforce development, the NJSBA’s endorsement marks a defining moment in solidifying esports as a forward-thinking and legitimate component of public education in New Jersey.

About Garden State Esports
Garden State Esports (GSE) is the governing body for scholastic esports in New Jersey. As a nonprofit organization led by educators, GSE is dedicated to advancing competitive, inclusive, and educationally grounded esports programming. Serving more than 12,000 students across over 400 schools and 22 colleges statewide, GSE promotes excellence in interscholastic competition while fostering college and career readiness through workforce-connected initiatives.