Newark city leaders braved freezing temperatures Tuesday for the grand opening of the new Ronald L. Rice Arts Center West in the city’s West Ward. The new center will provide a safe educational space for city youth to explore the arts, mentorship, and healing.

New Jersey has allocated nearly $2 billion for school construction projects across school districts but those funds have already been committed to emergency projects, leaving no funds for new projects, state leaders said.

Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer issued decisions to 14 charter schools, including two in Newark, requesting renewals to their charter agreements, amendments, or grade-level expansions.

Newark is the first city in the state to lower the voting age to 16 for school board elections and this week, local officials and groups will start promoting voter registration among teens.

Newark city and school officials said they will fight to keep families safe as fears over President Donald Trump’s new immigration policies grow.

Community members on Thursday urged Superintendent Roger León to address racial tensions in schools and provide transparency after a leaked draft report found Black students endured anti-Black racism.

The state’s acting education commissioner denied the district’s petition to remove school board member Dawn Haynes. The commissioner’s decision comes after a judge ruled against the petition.

A state judge denied the board’s petition to unseat a member over a conflict of interest after her daughter filed a claim against NPS alleging racial harassment during her time at Global Studies. The state’s education commissioner will issue a final decision.

Six-year board of education member Dawn Haynes may be ousted from her seat after the Newark school board sent a petition to the state for the recommendation of her removal.