Mark Weber

2 months ago | journals.sagepub.com | Mark Weber |Bruce Baker

The closing of schools at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 is arguably one of the most consequential events in the history of American education. A research consensus is emerging that finds that remote schooling during the 2020–2021 school year had a pronounced effect on the academic progress and mental health of students.

2 months ago | njpp.org | Mark Weber

Every child deserves a high-quality education, and every teacher who dedicates their career to this mission deserves financial security in retirement. Yet, in New Jersey, new teachers are getting a raw deal. As the state struggles with a growing teacher shortage, one major barrier to recruitment and retention is compensation — not just salaries, but also retirement benefits.

2 months ago | njpp.org | Mark Weber

Today, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to direct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin taking steps to close the U.S. Department of Education (USED). The executive order’s directive to “ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely” would be impossible without full staffing and funding for the Department’s experts.

2 months ago | njpp.org | Mark Weber

A strong education system is fundamental to opportunity, economic mobility, and the long-term success of our communities. The Trump Administration’s efforts to weaken or dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (USED) raise both legal and policy concerns. Only an act of Congress can dissolve the Department; until then, the President has an obligation to keep it staffed and fully functioning.

Jan 30, 2025 | njpp.org | Mark Weber

Yesterday, President Donald Trump signed three executive orders to direct federal agencies to “end indoctrination” in K-12 education, investigate campus protests, and enact a federal school choice voucher initiative. These orders seek to block federal funding for schools that affirm transgender students’ gender identity, censor the teaching of American history, specifically on race and slavery, and direct the Department of Education to prioritize school choice in discretionary grant programs.