Westwood Regional School Budget: Tax Hikes and Job Cuts Shake the District
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Westwood NJ, The Westwood Regional School District has officially approved a $78.9 million budget for the 2026-2027 school year, but the financial blueprint comes with a heavy price tag for both taxpayers and staff.
You sit at your desk, stare at the same screen, and wonder if this is it for the next ten years. The work gets done, the bills are paid, but something feels slightly off, like you missed a turn somewhere and just kept going anyway.
The Future of NJ Blue Ribbon Schools: What Happens in 2026?
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, For decades, the National Blue Ribbon was the ultimate “gold star” for New Jersey schools, signaling academic excellence or massive strides in closing achievement gaps. But as we move into 2026, parents and educators are asking a critical question: Is the program officially dead, or is New Jersey keeping the tradition alive?
Upper Saddle River Schools Propose 27 Staff Cuts to Balance $32 Million Budget
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Upper Saddle River NJ, The Upper Saddle River (USR) Board of Education is facing a wave of community pushback after introducing a $32 million budget for the 2026-2027 school year that calls for the elimination of 27 staff positions.
Landmark Ruling: NJ Supreme Court Says Schools Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Abuse
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, In a historic 6-1 decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court has shifted the landscape of student safety and institutional accountability. The court ruled on March 10 that public schools can now be held “vicariously liable” for acts of sexual abuse committed by employees—even when that abuse occurs outside the traditional scope of their professional duties.
Westwood Regional School Alert: Staff Cuts Possible as Healthcare Costs Skyrocket $3M
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Westwood NJ, Parents and educators in the Westwood Regional School District are bracing for a difficult budget season. Superintendent Patrick McQueeney issued a stark warning at the March 5th board meeting: staffing reductions across administration, support, and teaching roles are now a “very real possibility.”
The Elisabeth Morrow School Announces: New Jersey’s Inaugural Artificial Intelligence Summer Institute AI Intensive to Empower Rising Grades 3–9 through Project-Based Learning, Led by Experts from Stanford, MIT, and Ivy League Universities Photo Credit: The Elisabeth Morrow School
The future isn’t just coming—it’s being coded right now in Englewood
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Englewood NJ, The Elisabeth Morrow School (EMS) has officially announced the launch of New Jersey’s Inaugural Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summer Institute. This premier intensive, running from June 22–26, 2026, offers students in rising grades 3–9 a rare opportunity to learn from the brightest minds at Stanford, MIT, and the Ivy League.
NJ’s Charter School Overhaul: 10-Year Renewals, For-Profit Bans, and New Transparency Rules Signed
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, In a historic move for New Jersey’s education system, Governor Phil Murphy signed two major charter school reform bills—A5935 / S4716 and A5936 / S4713—into law on January 16, 2026.
Marking 30 years since the original Charter School Program Act of 1995, this new legislation represents a sweeping modernization of how 84 charter schools serve their 64,000 students. The goal? To balance innovation and autonomy with stricter accountability and transparency.
Hackensack Faces Massive $15 Million School Budget Crisis
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
HACKENSACK, NJ — The halls of Hackensack High School were filled with more than just students on Tuesday night; they were filled with a community in mourning and a city demanding answers.
Hundreds of residents, educators, and alumni gathered for a sobering town hall to address a staggering $15+ million budget deficit that threatens to gut the district’s essential services.
New Jersey’s Top 100 High Schools for Sports: 2026 Rankings Revealed
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood , NJ — Is your local high school a powerhouse on the field? A new 2026 report from Niche has officially ranked the Best High Schools for Athletes in New Jersey, and North Jersey private schools are once again dominating the leaderboard.
Federal government will begin garnishing wages for student loan borrowers in default
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thousands of Americans are facing a major financial hit as the new year begins. The Department of Education has officially confirmed that the federal government will begin garnishing wages for student loan borrowers in default starting in January 2026.
MAHWAH, NJ — The Mahwah Board of Education has set the stage for a landmark decision that could reshape the township’s educational landscape for decades. In a unanimous vote on December 17, 2025, the Board approved a two-question, $138.4 million bond referendum scheduled for March 10, 2026.
Marek Beck, Ph.D., Head of School, officially accepted the resolution on behalf of the school. The ceremony included the reading of a resolution recognizing the school’s consistently high performance, validating the quality of its educational model. Dr. Beck shown with the award with students celebrating the prestigious award.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Englewood, NJ – The Elisabeth Morrow School (EMS) is proud to announce its selection as a recipient of the 2025 National Blue Ribbon School award, placing it among the nation’s most academically distinguished institutions. After successfully completing the rigorous federal application process, the school was officially notified of its selection by the U.S. Department of Education. Notably, EMS is one of only two private schools in the state of New Jersey to receive this prestigious recognition, cementing its place as a leader in independent education.
Northern New Jersey Shines: More Than a Quarter of NJ’s Elite Elementary Schools are in Bergen County
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Glen Rock NJ, Bergen County has cemented its reputation as a powerhouse for education, with an astonishing 13 public elementary schools cracking the top 50 in the highly anticipated U.S. News and World Report’s 2026 rankings. This means over 25% of New Jersey’s top-tier elementary schools are located right here in Bergen County!
The rankings, which assessed nearly 47,000 public elementary schools nationwide, provide a valuable look at student performance across the state. The methodology focuses heavily on math and reading proficiency scores from the U.S. Department of Education data, while also factoring in student-teacher ratios to break ties.
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey’s latest assault on parental rights has homeschool families in an uproar as lawmakers propose a bill forcing them to teach divisive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) topics at home. The controversial legislation, still under review as of September 2025, demands homeschoolers align with state standards, including gender identity, sexual orientation, and climate studies, while subjecting them to intrusive oversight. Parents like Michele Latour are vowing defiance, declaring, “Our family won’t teach anything that opposes the Word of God.” Here’s why NJ’s power grab is sparking a fierce rebellion and what it means for freedom in 2025!