NJSBA “In the News”
NJSBA Senior Director of Advocacy, Jonathan Pushman, appeared on Fox29 Philadelphia to discuss the new state law restricting student usage of cell phones and the internet during the school day.
View the interview here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HhD8LokPu/.
School Board Notes
School-Board – Notes-Aug. 25, 2026
Lead Story: SEHBC Fails to Adopt Plan Year 2027 Active Employee Rate Increases For NJSBA Education News anytime, visit the NJSBA website homepage, and scroll down to News and Resource.
Chalkbeat
Newark’s chronic absenteeism rate drops to 8.5%, the best in district history
Newark Public Schools’ chronic absenteeism rate hit a historic low for the 2025-26 school year, dropping to 8.5%. District leaders said on Thursday that it’s also the sharpest turnaround seen in a few years.
Why virtual public school enrollment has doubled in recent years
Remote learning during the pandemic was a nightmare for some students, but others have stuck with it, new data shows.
Asbury Park Press
High cost of living makes NJ one of most expensive states for grads
You got accepted into your dream college and earned the degree. But now it’s time to find the best place to earn a living.
Courier Post Cherry Hill
Collingswood school board proposes $4.56m referendum
On Aug. 19, the Collingswood Board of Education unanimously approved a $4.56 million operational referendum, where voters will have a chance to approve higher property taxes to pull the school district out of financial deficits in November.
Courier Post Cherry Hill
Collingswood school board proposes $4.56m referendum
On Aug. 19, the Collingswood Board of Education unanimously approved a $4.56 million operational referendum, where voters will have a chance to approve higher property taxes to pull the school district out of financial deficits in November.
MyCentralJersey.com
Hillsborough schools chief responds to budget critics
In response to the growing grumbling about property tax hikes in the township, Superintendent of Schools Michael Volpe has pledged to be more transparent about the district’s fiscal state and to continue advocating for changes in the state aid formula which has shortchanged Hillsborough by millions of dollars.
NJBIZ
17 New Jersey universities make Time’s first Best Colleges list
As campuses across the U.S. welcome back students, Time unveiled its America’s Best Colleges of 2026-2027 list.
NJ.com
Plainfield School District faces millions in unresolved audit findings, report finds
Two years after a state audit questioned with how the Plainfield school district was spending its money, the district has not fixed all of the identified problems, according to a new state review.
Lakewood School District will no longer provide busing to some students (Yahoo.com)
The Lakewood Board of Education voted Tuesday to rescind its resolution providing courtesy busing to some students, citing state funding cuts and legal restrictions that prevent the district from offering the service.
Pleasantville Board of Education launches voucher program for free school uniforms
As families prepare for the start of the new school year, some Pleasantville students will be able to receive free school uniforms through a voucher program recently approved by the district.
Parents push back on Spotswood’s plan to use cell phone blocking app in schools
Parents in one Middlesex County school district pushed back this month after the school district announced it would use an app to control students’ cell phones to comply with New Jersey’s new bell-to-bell school cell phone ban.
Only 3 N.J. school districts still offer half-day kindergarten this fall
All districts in the state will be required to offer full-day kindergarten by the start of the 2029–30 school year under a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy shortly before he left office.
NJ Spotlight News
How Whitney Houston’s mortician got a $700k Newark school deal
Critics ask why a contract for hotel and food-service training was awarded to local go-to embalmer for celebrities and political elite.
Q&A: Teacher of the Year creates safe zone amid ‘culture of fear’
Newark native Carla Ferriera wants policymakers to pay attention to ICE operations near schools and to the rise of artificial intelligence
NorthJersey.com
Ridgewood closes two high school fields for fall after safety failures (sport.yahoo.com)
On the eve of a new school year, Ridgewood Public Schools has closed its two main high school athletic fields for the rest of the fall season after independent testing found they failed to meet safety standards for player impact absorption.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Cherry Hill district’s pre-K students are absent from school almost as much as seniors (MSN.com)
Getting all pre-Kindergarten students to consistently attend school has proven to be a challenge as the Cherry Hill district rapidly expands its program for early learners.
PressReader.com
Board accuses neighbors of land encroachment
The Board of Education is suing six of its neighbors, accusing them of encroachment, and saying they have infringed on land that it wants to sell to a real estate investor, stalling the $1 million deal.
Montclair Local
Montclair Schools to Limit Chromebook Use in Classrooms
Cell phones aren’t the only devices students in Montclair Public Schools will be using less of this school year.
TAPinto.net
The Ellen T. Briggs School installed its first “Little Free Library” earlier this week. The stand is an opportunity for children to share books by dropping off books and taking other books that are in the library.
Hunterdon Central Increases Passing Time to Allow for More Bathroom Stops After consideration and concerns from students, the board has agreed to extending the time between classes to allow for more students to use the bathrooms during passing periods.
