AFTNJ News

Gov. Phil Murphy on Oct. 6 visited Betty McElmon Elementary School in West Long Branch to highlight his commitment to early education and the goal of providing universal preschool programs across New Jersey.

“These children [at BME] are among the more than 2,100 three- and four-year-olds in 27 districts statewide who now have access to free, full-day PreK thanks to the state budget’s investment of $26 million dollars in PreK expansion aid,” said Murphy.…

Gov. Phil Murphy on Sept. 9 signed two bills that address food-insecurity issues for New Jersey students.

A2368 requires schools to provide free breakfasts and lunches to students from working-class, middle-income families, while A2365 requires the development of promotional materials for educating parents and guardians about existing and expanding school meal program options. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate Majority Leader M.…

Having strong relationships between school personnel and students “are essential to building trust and robust reporting cultures” when it comes to disclosing potential threats in K-12 schools, a RAND Corp. study reveals.

Among the recommendations in “Supporting Individual Willingness to Report School Safety Concerns”:

• Increase opportunities for teachers and staff to interact informally with groups of students outside the classroom, and ensure that security personnel receive training to help them work and communicate effectively with the school community.

Gov. Phil Murphy on Aug. 30 revealed details to use $6.5 million in remaining American Rescue Plan funds to outfit about 1,500 school buildings around New Jersey with mapping technology that can assist first responders during emergencies.

“An important part of school safety is ensuring that first responders have the tools they need to answer any emergency of any size and at any time,” Murphy said from East Brook Middle School in Paramus.…

Teachers of students ages 8-14 can request a free copy of The Week Junior, a magazine with news, ideas, puzzles, activities and more.

For more information, click here.…