TRENTON, N.J. – The Assembly Education Committee on Thursday advanced a bill that would allow all homeschooled students in New Jersey to participate in extracurricular activities in their hometown school districts. Assemblymen Jay Webber and Hal Wirths are sponsoring the bill (A1041). “This bill is really about fairness to...
TRENTON, N.J. – The nation’s oldest and largest university-based environmental education facility may soon have new management under a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Ron Dancer. The bill was released from the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee Monday. Since 1981, Montclair State University with the Department of Environmental Protection has...
TRENTON, N.J. – Schools must be fully funded and return to a rigorous focus on academics to combat learning loss, Assemblywomen Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner said. With the state’s Start Strong assessment showing significant learning loss as a result of Gov. Phil Murphy’s pandemic lockdown policies, their call...
TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblywomen Kim Eulner and Marilyn Piperno are calling out Sen. Vin Gopal on his latest effort to revise New Jersey’s planned sex education classes. The assemblywomen say his bill, announced on Tuesday, is damage control for Democrats in response to the justifiable growing outrage from parents...
TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger challenged Gov. Phil Murphy’s claim that every dollar in additional state aid goes to property tax relief at a legislative budget hearing with acting education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan on April 11. WATCH: Data doesn’t backup Murphy’s property-tax claims on school funding “Governor Murphy...
TRENTON, N.J. – During an Assembly budget hearing on Monday, Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz and Assemblyman Brian Rumpf pressed acting education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan on the administration’s spending and lesson plans to address students’ two-year learning loss. Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration has largely failed to dedicate funding to learning loss...
NORTHFIELD, N.J. – Assemblyman Don Guardian hand delivered a letter to Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, the head of the state Department of Environmental Protection, Thursday requesting an investigation into potential lead contamination of Atlantic County schools’ drinking water. “If the last two years taught us anything, it’s that we need...
TRENTON, N.J. – The Assembly Education Committee advanced a bill Thursday that would require school districts to submit their emergency communications policies to the state Department of Education for review. The bill (A301) is sponsored by Assemblywomen Kim Eulner and Nancy Munoz. “Keeping our students and school staff safe...
TRENTON, N.J. – Students who miss class to attend a civics event should be allowed one excused absence per school year, says Assemblyman Kevin Rooney. Rooney’s bill (A1271) would allow students in grades 6-12 at least one such excused absence, with more at the school district’s discretion. Parents or guardians must...
TRENTON, N.J. – As schools struggle to find bus drivers who can safely transport kids and custodians who can sanitize classrooms, Assemblywoman Bethanne McCarthy Patrick eyes an opportunity for retired non-instructional staff. To help alleviate the pandemic-exacerbated staff shortages in schools, she recently introduced a bill that would allow...