TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblywoman Aura Dunn criticized Gov. Phil Murphy’s budget for shortchanging schools despite increasing spending by $4.5 billion this year and funding six new pet projects to the cost of more than $95 million. “The governor’s budget funds more free college and preschool when our kids aren’t...
PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Forcing school children to take standardized tests this year would be an unnecessary burden heaped on students, parents and teachers, says Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, a member of the Joint Committee on Public Schools. “I don’t know what of value would be gained by forcing students to...
TRENTON, N.J. – Today’s Joint Committee on the Public Schools remote meeting highlighted the importance of getting teachers and children back in the classroom for full in-person learning, said the committee’s Assembly Republican members. Legislators, state officials, education advocates, and concerned parents discussed how New Jersey can successfully reopen...
TRENTON, N.J. – The state Education Department quietly sent a memo last week to school districts detailing its plans to require standardized tests this spring even while it could apply for a waiver from the Biden administration. Assemblyman Brian Bergen says the state should think about the impact on...
TRENTON, N.J. – In anticipation of an adult-use recreational marijuana market in New Jersey, Sen. Michael Testa and Assemblyman Erik Simonsen introduced a bill to educate students in grades 3 through 12 on the risks of cannabis and marijuana use. The bill (S3360/A5168) specifies schools must include age-appropriate instruction...
TRENTON, N.J. – Today the Assembly Higher Education Committee released Assemblyman Ron Dancer’s bill expanding current law to require that all students attending a college or university in New Jersey receive the same kind of cost disclosure information that only prospective students currently must receive. Understanding the true costs...
TRENTON, N.J. – Amid coronavirus school closures and remote learning modules, state officials are failing to uphold the education article in the New Jersey State Constitution, says Assemblyman Erik Peterson. “The current administration has let New Jersey’s educational system become an egregious causality of the coronavirus,” said Peterson (R-Hunterdon)....
WESTFIELD, N.J. – Republican Assembly Leader Jon Bramnick will visit virtually with Garden State students Friday via Facebook Live to teach about state government. “This will provide parents a break and give young people a good opportunity to learn about their state government,” said Bramnick (R-Union), a former professor...
MORRIS PLAINS, N.J. – Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed spending plan has nearly 200 school districts across the state losing $155 million in aid. Assemblyman Brian Bergen, who represents parts of Morris and Somerset counties as part of the 25th legislative district, which is losing more than $3.7 million, wants...
TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman Jay Webber announced he will introduce legislation that would require local school districts to implement best practices and expand the authority of the state auditor to ensure safeguards against fraud and abuse in New Jersey’s education system. The results of recent state auditor assessments of...