Press releases

Black Star News

Through refundable tax credits, the Respect, Advancement, and Increasing Support for Educators (RAISE) Act will help boost the compensation of early childhood, elementary, and secondary school teachers. Depending on the level of poverty in their school, public school teachers would be eligible for a tax credit up to $10,000. The bill would also double the educator tax credit, which teachers can use to offset the cost of school supplies.…

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today signed legislation that will require all New Jersey public schools to include mental health instruction in K through 12 health curriculums. The bill (S2861) aims to enhance student understanding, attitudes, and behaviors related to mental health to promote well-being. Governor Murphy also took action on legislation (S3160) that will require the Department of Education to establish a four-year pilot program testing later school start times for high school students.…

AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera said, “Teachers should be able to focus on educating the whole child to be successful in college or career; to be well-rounded as developing citizens. Reducing the emphasis on teaching to the test means that classroom educators can innovate and personalize lessons to students’ needs. We appreciate having a Department of Education that listened to educators’ voices and made the appropriate decision to reduce the weight of PARCC scores on teacher evaluations.…

Contact: Nat Bender, 908-377-0393, nbender [at] aftnj.org

AFT New Jersey President Donna M. Chiera said, “Today, Governor Murphy took the first step in returning students to classrooms where the focus is on teaching—not just testing. These proposals will allow students to be engaged in a rich, rigorous, broad curriculum rather than one narrowed down to where attention is only focused on tested subjects.…