By Stuart Shapiro Upon its inception in April 2021, the New Jersey State Policy Lab (NJSPL) aspired to produce work that is both relevant to current policy issues in the state of New Jersey and academically rigorous. The evidence that we have had success in the first of these missions includes the twice weekly [...]
Education Elimination of Praxis Exam Requirement for Teachers Takes Effect - Effective January 1st, New Jersey no longer requires aspiring teachers to pass the Praxis Core basic skills test for certification, following bipartisan legislation (P.L.2024, c.26) signed by Governor Phil Murphy in June 2024. Lawmakers stated that the change would address teacher shortages and reduce [...]
By Marc Pfeiffer New Jersey's journalism landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation, driven by technological change and evolving economic realities. A contemporary analysis reveals that while traditional print media faces significant challenges, the industry isn't dying – it's evolving. The recent decision by NJ Advance Media to end print operations of several newspapers symbolizes [...]
By Will Irving R/ECON’s economic forecast for New Jersey as 2024 drew to a close once again shows a slowing trajectory, with annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2025 projected to slow more sharply than in the prior forecast.
Transportation Judge Denies New Jersey’s Challenge as Congestion Pricing Takes Effect - On January 3rd, a judge rejected New Jersey’s bid to halt New York’s congestion pricing plan which begins on January 5th. The program will impose an additional $9 toll during peak hours for most vehicles entering lower Manhattan, with rates gradually increasing to $15 [...]
By Angie Nga Le In December 2024, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center released a report on credential attainment among college students nationwide[1]. The six-year completion rate in New Jersey continued its upward trajectory, with the 2018 cohort achieving a completion rate of 61%, representing a 0.9 percentage point gain from the previous cohort [...]
By Taylor Hughes The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the United States' most extensive integrated healthcare system, providing care at more than 1,300 facilities to over 9 million enrolled veterans nationwide. New Jersey has two major VA medical centers offering hospital services and several VA community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) dotted throughout the state. In [...]
NJSPL Policy Fellow Linda Stamato published an op-ed in The Bernardsville News discussing the long-lasting impact President Jimmy Carter has had on the nation as a whole.
By Marilyn Rubin In New Jersey, the state government has been proactively advancing equity for several years through a range of initiatives including the creation of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in the Office of the Governor in 2021. However, success in addressing inequities in government services across population subgroups is [...]
By Ra’Zulu Ukawabutu The necessity of computer literacy for the segment of incarcerated citizens that will ultimately return to society at some point is real. Computer access is critical for education programs, legal access, social services program participation, rehabilitative services and reentry job readiness services. Computer literacy should be provided for the reintegration of [...]
