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NJ College Closing Renowned Polling Institute Due To 'Changing Political And Media Landscapes' NJ College Closing Renowned Polling Institute Due To 'Changing Political And Media Landscapes'
NJ College Closing Renowned Polling Institute Due To 'Changing Political And Media Landscapes' Monmouth University is shutting down its polling institute, a nationally recognized research center treated as a "gold standard" in New Jersey's political world. University president Dr. Patrick Leahy announced the closing of the Monmouth University Polling Institute in a community-wide letter on Wednesday, Mar. 12. The institute will officially close on Tuesday, July 1. The decision follows a year-long review of all university centers and institutes, with school leadership ultimately determining the polling firm "is no longer aligned with our current strategic goals." "The chang…

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by Chris Spiker
Schools
Students Feel Record Stress Over Admissions, NJ College Named Parents' Top Dream School: Survey Students Feel Record Stress Over Admissions, NJ College Named Parents' Top Dream School: Survey
Students Feel Record Stress Over Admissions, NJ College Named Parents' Top Dream School: Survey For high school seniors, spring is a nerve-wracking time as college decisions roll in — but the class of 2025 is more stressed than ever, according to a new survey. The Princeton Review said 73 percent of students and parents reported "high" or "very high" stress over the admissions process. That's the highest level in the 23-year history of the College Hopes & Worries Survey, which had its 2025 edition released on Tuesday, Mar. 4. The 2025 survey polled 9,317 students and parents about a wide variety of college-related issues. Financial Pressures, Testing, AI Concerns Financial s…

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by Chris Spiker
Schools
Rolling Hills, Gothic Spires, Waterfront Views: Most Beautiful College Campuses In Northeast Rolling Hills, Gothic Spires, Waterfront Views: Most Beautiful College Campuses In Northeast
Rolling Hills, Gothic Spires, Waterfront Views: Most Beautiful College Campuses In Northeast Choosing a college is about more than academics, sports, and social life — campus beauty can also make a lasting impression. Travel magazine Conde Nast released its 2025 list of the 54 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the United States. Across the Northeast, several schools stand out for their historic architecture, stunning landscapes, and picturesque settings. Whether framed by rolling hills, autumn foliage, or Gothic spires, these colleges offer students an inspiring backdrop for their studies. Connecticut Wesleyan University was recognized for utilizing Greek Revival a…

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by Chris Spiker
Schools
Education Pays: Northeast States Among Nation's Best In School Quality, College Attainment Education Pays: Northeast States Among Nation's Best In School Quality, College Attainment
Education Pays: Northeast States Among Nation's Best In School Quality, College Attainment Several Northeast states are among the most educated in the US, excelling in school quality, college attainment, and overall academic achievement, a new study said. Massachusetts was ranked as the country's most-educated state, according to a WalletHub study released on Monday, Feb. 10. Maryland was second, followed by Vermont, Colorado, and Connecticut in the top five. The study analyzed all 50 states using 18 factors, including educational attainment, quality, and achievement gaps. "There's a strong correlation between being more educated and receiving higher compensation," said Wal…

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by Chris Spiker
Schools
Parents Fight Back After NJ DUI Super Returns To Work Parents Fight Back After NJ DUI Super Returns To Work
Parents Fight Back After NJ DUI Super Returns To Work A New Jersey superintendent who was arrested for drunk driving last fall has returned to work and some parents are none too happy about it. George Chidiac, the superintendent for the Stafford Township School District, was placed on leave last year after he was arrested for driving under intoxication last October, after crashing into a utility pole in Berkeley Township, causing a power outage, Berkeley Township police said.  Police said Chidiac, 52, was walking away from his gray Kia Forte when officers arrived. He told the officers he was "going home to get help." When questioned …

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by Sam Barron
Schools
Passaic County Schools Closed, Delayed Ahead Of Dangerous Winter Storm (UPDATED) Passaic County Schools Closed, Delayed Ahead Of Dangerous Winter Storm (UPDATED)
Passaic County Schools Closed, Delayed Ahead Of Dangerous Winter Storm (Updated) A wintry mix will bring hazardous travel conditions across the region beginning late Wednesday night into Thursday morning, Feb. 6, prompting several school delays and closings, officials say. The following schools in North Jersey announced delayed openings or closures: BERGEN (closed): Allendale Bergen County Special Services Bergen County Vocational Bergenfield Closter Cresskill Demarest Dumont Elmwood Park Emerson Fair Lawn Fairview Franklin Lakes Garfield Glen Rock Harrington Park Ho-Ho-Kus Haworth Hillsdale Mahwah Midland Park Montvale Montville New Milford Norwood Oakland Paramus Pa…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School
New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School A brand-new study has uncovered surprising trends in teen phone use during school hours, raising fresh concerns about digital distractions in the classroom. The study, published by JAMA Pediatrics on Monday, Feb. 3, found that students spent a significant portion of the school day on their phones, with messaging, Instagram, and video streaming among the most-used apps. Researchers also noted that a quarter of students logged more than two hours of screen time during class. In addition, students whose parents held bachelor’s degrees or higher spent about a half-hour less on their phones dur…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Go Birds? NJ School District's Delayed Opening For Eagles Super Bowl Has Parents Divided Go Birds? NJ School District's Delayed Opening For Eagles Super Bowl Has Parents Divided
Go Birds? NJ School District's Delayed Opening For Eagles Super Bowl Has Parents Divided Kids and their teachers in two Camden County school districts have another reason to be thankful the Philadelphia Eagles are in the Super Bowl. The Pennsauken Public School district and Gloucester City School District announced  two-hour delays for Monday, Feb. 10, the day after the Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. "We feel this allows our students, families, and staff the ability to enjoy the game and still attend school safely the next day," Pennsauken Public Schools said.  Pennsauken High School is just 14 miles from Lincoln Financial Field, where the…

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by Sam Barron
Schools
'No Remorse:' Teacher Fired For Cruel Punishment Of NJ High Schooler, Officials Say 'No Remorse:' Teacher Fired For Cruel Punishment Of NJ High Schooler, Officials Say
'No Remorse:' Teacher Fired For Cruel Punishment Of NJ High Schooler, Officials Say A teacher in Morris County has been fired after she hit a 14-year-old student and prevented him from leaving class in what education officials say was a "cruel or unusual" punishment. Hui-Tzu "Isabella" Chen was a Mandarin teacher with tenure at Morristown High School when she pushed the student, a freshman, struck his forearm and pushed herself against the door to block his way on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, according to charging documents. Chen had taught at the school since 2017. Chen had suspected the student copied his Mandarin assignment and wanted him to stay after class to review his…

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by Sam Barron
Schools
Hackensack BOE Pres Resigns, Cites Board Drama, Wasted Resources As Challenges (WATCH) Hackensack BOE Pres Resigns, Cites Board Drama, Wasted Resources As Challenges (WATCH)
Hackensack BOE Pres Resigns, Cites Board Drama, Wasted Resources As Challenges (Watch) Hackensack Public Schools Board of Education President Scott James-Vickery announced his resignation during his final board meeting Wednesday, Dec. 18, using the occasion to highlight persistent challenges he believes are holding the district back from reaching its full potential. James-Vickery, who served six years on the board and held the role of president since 2019, listed several issues he said have hindered Hackensack Public Schools, including internal politics, wasted resources, and a lack of focus on students’ needs.  “The students’ resources are being drained by the board,” h…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.  Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline.  This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue.  As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Rutgers Student Charged With Lewdness, Sexual Contact In 12+ Incidents On Campus Rutgers Student Charged With Lewdness, Sexual Contact In 12+ Incidents On Campus
Rutgers Student Charged With Lewdness, Sexual Contact In 12+ Incidents On Campus A Rutgers University student is accused of committing lewd acts and criminal sexual contact in more than a dozen incidents at the university's Piscataway campus and in South Brunswick, prosecutors announced on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Jihad Goines, 21, of Monmouth Junction, was charged after investigations tied him to incidents at the Royal Oaks Apartment Complex and the Dickson Carr Library on the Rutgers campus, authorities said. The alleged acts occurred between November 2023 and December 2024, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayd…

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by Jillian Pikora