AFT New Jersey

Newark’s school meal contractor also feeds an ICE detention facility. Advocates want that to end. There are multiple contracts between Newark Public Schools and Driscoll Foods authorizing the district to spend up to $12 million with the vendor, which also supplies the nearby Delaney Hall ICE facil...

www.chalkbeat.org/newark/2026/...

Please note: Members of the public can also make comments by phone during this BOE meeting. Call 1-872-240-4849, then enter this conference ID: 887 499 759 #

To register, click here:
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

“Today I am submitting to this Legislature the most fiscally responsible budget that our state has seen in years. It fully funds the pension, it does not raise taxes on individual New Jerseyans, & it does include $2.6 billion dollars in budget solutions.” —Gov. @mikiesherrill.bsky.social on March 10

Opinion | What Does School Choice Really Mean?

“If the current preoccupation with privatizing education in the name of school choice continues, then public schooling will cease to be a viable choice for millions of children.” — Robert Kim, Education Law Center executive director
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/o...

Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act advances to full House vote The measure included the Kids Online Safety Act, though House Democrats contended the bill would leave a “giant loophole” for Big Tech.

“Republicans are letting Big Tech off the hook by letting them say they don’t know they have kids on their platforms.” — U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone
www.k12dive.com/news/kids-on...

Sen. Andy Kim introduces bill to combat illiteracy: 'Reading unlocks life-long success' Senator Andy Kim, D-N.J., is aiming to tackle the nation's literacy crisis with a new bill focused on increasing children's access to books.

“We know literacy and reading unlocks lifelong success in school and out, but right now millions of kids across our country are living in book deserts.” — U.S. Sen. Andy Kim
abcnews.com/Politics/sen...
@kim.senate.gov

Hegseth is Waging War on Colleges. His Targets Are Unclear. The defense secretary’s memos and X videos have left a muddied picture of which programs are being canceled at which institutions and for what reasons.

From Inside Higher Ed:
Hegseth Is Waging War on University Partnerships. His Targets Are Unclear.
www.insidehighered.com/news/admissi...

Rider University will sell its presidential house to Mercer County, then pay $10 in annual rent to the county for use of the two-story colonial over the next seven years, reports Rob Jennings:
www.nj.com/education/20...

N.J. university wants to build $690M research campus, ‘wellness village’ with 1,000+ homes
www.nj.com/education/20...

Public colleges could face pressure amid state budget woes, Fitch says Republican-led federal cuts and a shaky economy could set up competition for funds — and historically, higher education gets cut first in tough times.

www.highereddive.com/news/public-...

Teachers Say Behavior Problems Aren't Just About Students. It’s the Parents Parents are the third rail of the discipline conversation. Teachers say they need backup from their school leaders.

From Education Week:
Teachers Say Behavior Problems Aren’t Just About Students. It’s the Parents
www.edweek.org/the-state-of...

To register for this 60-minute webinar, taking place March 10 at 6 p.m. ET, click here.
sharemylesson.com/webinars/bla...

Sue Tardi, AFT New Jersey’s executive VP of higher education, delivers her remarks March 7 at the CD 7 Candidate Forum, co-presented by AFTNJ and OneNJ7 at Raritan Valley Community College. The participating candidates were Michael Roth, Beth Adubato, Tina Shah, Rebecca Bennett and Brian Varela.

CALLING ALL BOOKWORMS: On March 6, AFT New Jersey President Jennifer S. Higgins visited Newark’s South Street School, where she played the role of celebrity reader. Joining her was the costumed Silvia Pereira, AFTNJ’s PreK-12 Executive VP and an ELA teacher coach at the elementary school. @aft.org

Rutgers athletics in $500 million hole that dates to Big Ten move | NJ Spotlight News Rider University, with fiscal troubles of its own, gets $10 million lifeline from land, lease deal with Mercer County

www.njspotlightnews.org/video/rutger...

Why Not Ask Why: Neuroscientist Urges Educators to Reconsider Technology’s Reach - EdSurge News Education needs an analog reboot, says neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath in his new book, “The Digital Delusion,” which lays out how technology has ...

From EdSurge:
Why Not Ask Why: Neuroscientist Urges Educators to Reconsider Technology’s Reach
www.edsurge.com/news/2026-02...

Too important to lose: El Paso history teachers fight to keep Mexican American studies alive El Paso social studies teachers are raising concerns that students may not learn their own history amid threats to Mexican American studies classes.

From El Paso Matters:
Too important to lose: El Paso history teachers fight to keep Mexican American studies alive
elpasomatters.org/2026/03/01/e...

“We’re asking college sports leaders and fans across the country to stand with us. Tell your elected representatives to let universities remain free and independent.” — Coaches for Campus Freedom
More info on the movement available here:
standforcampusfreedom.org/coaches/

From Coast to Coast: We Showed Up for Our Kids & Communities! 🍎✊ YouTube video by AFT

www.youtube.com/shorts/W5Etm...

Supreme Court deals blow to school policies protecting student LGBTQ+ identities The lawsuit out of California was filed by teachers and parents who said such policies violate their First and 14th Amendment rights.

www.k12dive.com/news/supreme...

From The New York Times:
Colleges See Spike in Students With Disabilities, Including Elite Schools
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/u...

Struggling N.J. university will sell part of its campus under $10M rescue plan
www.nj.com/education/20...

CD7 Candidate Forum · OneNJ7 Join AFT New Jersey and OneNJ7 for a candidate forum featuring candidates running in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. Representative Tom Kean (R) along with all the democratic candidates…

Join AFT New Jersey and OneNJ7 on March 7 at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg for a forum featuring candidates running in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. The forum begins at 2:30 p.m. For more info and to register, click here:
www.mobilize.us/onenj7/event...

Perth Amboy Federation District Rep. Josiah Santamaria & AFTNJ Prez. Jennifer S. Higgins distribute flyers March 4 near Rose M. Lopez Elem. School urging parents to join them at the March 12 BOE meeting to hold the district’s administration accountable for the lack of staffing & services. @aft.org

How to Talk to Students About the U.S.-Iran Conflict Educators need to let students' questions drive the discussions in age-appropriate ways.

www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

READY FOR ACTION: AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins (center) with Perth Amboy Federation President Pat Paradiso and PAF District Rep. Josiah Santamaria outside the PAF office March 4 before distributing informational flyers to parents and guardians in the Perth Amboy school district. @aft.org

Education Department loses appeal on mental health grant cancellation The decision kept a lower court’s injunction in place, meaning the agency has to make new decisions on discontinued grants.

From K-12 Dive:
Education Department loses appeal on mental health grant cancellation
www.k12dive.com/news/educati...

DOING THE WRITE THING: AFT New Jersey’s Krista Sweeney and Shreya Shah bundle pencils for distribution to teachers and students ahead of the state federation’s Day of Action event March 4 in Perth Amboy. #March4Communities @aft.org

McMahon: Education Department shutdown is still the goal One year into the job, the education secretary is setting her sights on improving literacy and expanding school choice.

www.k12dive.com/news/mcmahon...