Schools
Rutgers to provide free tuition to undergrads from low-income families
Thousands of Rutgers University students will benefit from a new financial aid program slashing out-of-pocket costs of tuition and fees for families with incomes below $100,000. The program, dubbed Scarlet Guarantee, will be available to first- and second-year students on the school’s New Brunswick campus beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Rutgers officials expect 7,600 students […]
Mixed reviews for Gov. Murphy lifting schools mask mandate
Gov. Phil Murphy’s mask mandate for students and teachers will end next month, Murphy said Monday, an announcement that elicited cries of “finally!” from Murphy’s loudest critics even as some of the governor’s supporters label the move cowardly. Murphy characterized his lifting of the mandate as a return to “normalcy” as the number of COVID […]
Bill would create state division to study school desegregation
The Senate Education Committee advanced a bill that would create a new division to study and find solutions to segregation in New Jersey’s schools Thursday. The measure, which cleared the committee in a 3-2 vote along party lines, would create a Division of School Desegregation within the Department of Education that would be tasked with […]
Gov. Murphy signs flurry of bills just before second term begins
Gov. Phil Murphy signed a controversial law Tuesday that will allow New Jersey police officers to review their own body-camera footage before writing incident reports. Reformers fought the measure, fearing it would enable officers to omit details the camera didn’t capture and thereby evade accountability. Police unions pushed for it, saying it would improve the […]
New Monmouth assemblywoman sets sights on pandemic recovery
In the uproar over the pandemic’s impact on schools, there may be no more dreaded place to be than on a school board. Parents have packed meetings to demand or reject masking, vaccine mandates, and virtual learning. They’ve protested and threatened school board members. Sometimes, the police even get called. But Vicky Flynn was happy […]
Legislature approves bills to address school staffing issues
Lawmakers approved two bills Monday intended to help schools struggling with continuing staffing issues amid a new, highly-transmissible coronavirus variant. One bill (A5576), passed unanimously by both chambers Monday, would allow retired teachers to return to the classroom through the 2022-2023 school year and still collect their pensions. Another measure (S4203) would eliminate the requirement […]
Senate passes bill requiring schools to teach history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Students in New Jersey schools next year will learn about the history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, if Gov. Phil Murphy signs a bill the Senate passed unanimously Monday. Activists who have pushed for such representation in school curriculum applauded the Legislature for its “bold and timely leadership” at a time when New […]
Teachers, school officials plead for solutions for schools during COVID
Teachers, school nurses, principals, and their advocates vented for nearly two hours to the Senate Education Committee Thursday, saying they are stretched beyond their limit because of COVID-19. Teachers are taking on the responsibilities of cafeteria workers and custodians. Schools can’t retain educators. And everyone is growing more worried about remote schooling’s impact on learning […]
Parents confused, angry over school disruptions
Since returning from winter break Monday, North Plainfield students have attended school on a half-day schedule. Steven Rudyz’s son — who tested positive for COVID-19 and is quarantining — gets one hour of online schooling daily. Arlene Chuisano has three children in Sayreville schools, and kept her two sons home after they tested positive. But […]
Special education advocates seek court order to keep N.J. schools open
A New York-based group representing special education students has asked a federal judge for an emergency order to prevent any New Jersey schools from switching to virtual learning. The Brain Injury Rights Group filed a motion Monday in U.S. District Court in Newark seeking a temporary restraining order to ensure the 237,000 students ages 3 […]
Lawmakers turn to retired teachers as remote learning returns to some schools
An Assembly panel unanimously advanced a measure Monday that would allow retired teachers and some professional educational staff to temporarily return to work without impacting the status of their pensions. The panel’s action comes as school districts nationwide are facing a return to remote learning because of staffing issues related to COVID-19 infections. A surge […]
Bill would increase penalties, require reporting on school bullying
A bipartisan bill to toughen New Jersey’s anti-bullying law has won final legislative approval and awaits Gov. Phil Murphy’s signature. The bill would require school superintendents to report bullying incidents to school boards and direct school districts to spell out in anti-bullying policies the consequences a student faces for harassing, intimidating, or bullying a classmate. It would also […]