>>> FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS AND HORIZON BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF BLUECROSS AND BLUESHIELD ASSOCIATION AND BY THE PS E.G.

FOUNDATION.

>>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US, I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER AND FOR BREANNA VINOD Z.

GOVERNOR MURPHY TAKING A BOLD AND CONTROVERSIAL STEP TO CURB RISING COVID-19 CASES, ANNOUNCING TODAY HE HAS MANDATING ALL STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, STAFF AND VISITORS, MUST WEAR MASKS FOR THE START OF THE NEW IN PERSON SCHOOL YEAR WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS.

MASKS ARE REQUIRED EVEN FOR THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED.

THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER COMES AS THE HIGHLY TRANSMISSION OF DELTA STRAIN HAS LED TO IT INCREASE IN CASES IN OUR STATE.

BASED ON AN NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS ANALYSIS, AND EARLIER DRY, DELTA ACCOUNTED FOR 16% OF VARIANCE DETECTED IN TESTING.

AS OF THIS WEEK, DELTA ACCOUNTED FOR 84%.

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTED MORE THAN 1200 NEW CASES TODAY WITH SEVEN MORE DEPTH AND THERE ARE MORE THAN 5.3 MILLION RESIDENTS WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED IN NEW JERSEY.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SEE THAT NUMBER AND TO INCREASE AND HE IS URGING UNVACCINATED RESIDENTS TO GET THE SHOTS.

>>> NEW JERSEY SCHOOL MASK MANDATE IS SUPPORTED BY SEVERAL ASSOCIATIONS, INCLUDING THE AND JE A AND STATE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENTING SCHOOL BOARDS, SCHOOL NURSES, AND ADMINISTRATORS.

AS BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS, THE MANDATE WAS ALSO MET WITH PROTESTS.

>> MASK USES CHILD ABUSE.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT , THERE IS NONE, THIS IS ALL A LIE, THE CDC CHANGES ITS MIND EVERY MINUTE.

>> Reporter: PROTESTERS LIKE MARINES SCREAMED AND BRANDISH SIGNS OUTSIDE BUT TO NO AVAIL.

MASKS ARE BACK ON THIS FALL.

>> THERE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE AND MUST ALWAYS REMAIN ABOVE POLITICS AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

ANYONE TELLING YOU THAT WE CAN SAFELY REOPEN OUR SCHOOLS WITHOUT REQUIRING EVERYONE INSIDE TO WHERE MASK IS QUITE SIMPLY LYING TO YOU.

>> Reporter: MURPHY TOLD SUPPORTERS INSIDE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT KIDS AND STAFF ACROSS NEW JERSEY WILL HAVE TO MASK UP WHEN K-12 CLASSES RESUME, REGARDLESS OF THEIR VACCINATION STATUS.

IT IS A CONTROVERSIAL POLICY HE HAD HOPED TO AVOID LAST MONTH WHEN HE DECLARED DISTRICTS COULD SET THEIR OWN MASK AGENDAS BUT WITH THE DELTA STRAIN RAMPANT -- >> THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT GIVES ANY OF US ANY PLEASURE.

BUT AS THE SCHOOL YEAR APPROACHES, AND WHAT THE NUMBERS RAPIDLY INCREASING, IT IS THE ONE WE NEED TO MAKE RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: THE PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING ABOUT MASKING HAS BEEN MUDDLED BUT THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE RECOMMENDATION IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.

MASKS PROTECT STUDENTS AND STAFFS FROM THE VIRUS THAT IS ATTACKING US.

>> Reporter: THE MASK MANDATE BRINGS NEW JERSEY INTO LINE WITH THE CDC AND AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, CITING THE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DELTA VARIANT, THEY RECOMMENDED EVERYONE OLDER THAN AGE 2 WEAR A MASK WHEN SCHOOL REOPENS.

>> EVEN AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THE HOSPITAL, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE LESS AFFECTED, IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NOT AFFECTED.

>> Reporter: THE MASK MANDATE IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE ALL NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS MUST OFFER FULL- TIME, AND PERSON CLASSES THIS FALL WITH NOMAR VIRTUAL OPTIONS.

SUPERINTENDENTS WILL HAVE LEEWAY TO EXEMPT STUDENTS WITH DOCUMENTED MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR DISABILITIES, KIDS PARTICIPATING IN RIGOROUS ACTIVITIES, PLAYING INSTRUMENTS, EATING IN CAFETERIAS WHO ARE IMPACTED BY EXCESSIVE HEAT.

PARENTS LIKE CHERYL BREATH EMBRACE MASKS, HER SON IS TOO YOUNG FOR VACCINATION.

>> THE KIDS ARE WITH HAPPY TO WEAR IT, THEY ARE WANTING TO BE IN SCHOOL.

THEIR HEALTH ARE PARAMOUNT AT THIS POINT.

WE NEED TO GET THEM BACK AT SCHOOL FULL TIME AND THIS IS THE SAFEST AND EASIEST WAY TO DO SO.

>> I DON'T FEEL IT'S OKAY TO TELL MY CHILDREN TO COVER THEIR FACE, THAT'S NOT NORMAL.

I DON'T WANT MY CHILDREN THINKING THAT IS WHAT FREEDOM AS.

>> Reporter: PARENTS LIKE JESSICA HAVE PROTESTED THE MANDATE SUGGESTING THE GOVERNOR WOULD REIMPOSE RESTRICTIONS, SO SHE WELL, ONCE AGAIN, PULLED HER KIDS OUT OF DISTRICT CLASSES RATHER THAN MAKE THEM WHERE MASK >> IF PEOPLE WANT TO WEAR A MASK, YOU DO YOU.

IF THAT MAKES YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE BUT I BELIEVE WE NEED TO CHECK OUR MORAL COMPASS WHEN IT COMES TO MASKING CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 2 YEARS OLD TO PROTECT OTHERS.

IT'S NOT MY JOB TO PROTECT OTHERS.

I DON'T ASK YOU TO PUT SUNSCREEN ON SO I DON'T GET A SUNBURN.

>> Reporter: FAMILIES HAVE SUED THE GOVERNOR, ACCUSING HIM OF VIOLATING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

THERE ARGUMENTS ECHOED BY REPUBLICANS, WHO TODAY SAID MASKING KIDS SHOULD BE DECIDED BY PARENTS, NOT GOVERNMENT.

IF SOMEONE WANTS THEIR CHILD TO WEAR A MASK, THEY SHOULD FEEL FREE TO DO SO BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE FORCED ON CHILDREN, NOR ASSURED THEIR LEARNING BE INHIBITED IN ANY WAY.

ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, NEW JERSEY TEACHERS UNION, WHICH HAS BEEN URGING HIM TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE.

>> TODAY'S ACTION AND ENSURES A SAFER AND MORE SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR BY STILL ALLOWING US TO FIGHT THIS VIRUS.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR SAID, AS SOON AS CONDITIONS ALLOW, HE WILL LIFT THE MANDATE BUT THAT COULD TAKE MONTHS AND MEANWHILE, THE PROTESTS WILL CONTINUE.

IN EAST BRUNSWICK, BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> MORE BIG COMPANIES ARE MANDATING VACCINES.

UNITED AIRLINES WILL NOW REQUIRE IT 67,000 EMPLOYEES TO GET COVID-19 VACCINATIONS BY LATE OCTOBER.

COMPANY EXECUTIVES SAY IT IS A MATTER OF SAFETY AND CITED COMPELLING EVIDENCE THAT THE VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE.

EMPLOYEES WHO REFUSE TO PROVIDE A VACCINE CARD TO THE COMPANY WILL BE TERMINATED WITH EXEMPTIONS GRANTED ONLY FOR RELIGIOUS OR HEALTH REASONS.

THE AIRLINE SAYS THE MAJORITY OF ITS PILOTS AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ARE ALREADY VACCINATED.

UNITED, WHICH HAS A BIG HUB AT NEWARK AIRPORT IS THE FIRST AIRLINE CARRIER TO REQUIRE VACCINATIONS FOR ITS WORKERS.

>>> IS CASES RISE IN NEW JERSEY, WE ARE SEEING LOCAL CLUSTERS OF CASES BREAK OUT, ESPECIALLY DOWN THE SHORE, DURING THE HEIGHT OF TOURIST SEASON.

OFFICIALS THERE ARE TRACKING RISING CASES, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOWER VACCINATION RATES.

MELISSA COOPER REPORTS ON THE CHALLENGES AROUND STRIKING A BALANCE BETWEEN ENJOYING THE SUMMER AND STAYING SAFE.

>> Reporter: ON HOT SUMMER DAYS, THE JERSEY SHORE IS KNOWN FOR DRYING FAMILIES WANTING TO HANG OUT AND TOURIST HOPING TO EXPERIENCE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THESE TOWNS ALONG THE WATER HAVE TO OFFER.

>> WE STAYED WITH MY FAMILY FOR A WEEK.

>> Reporter: LARGER CROWDS BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE SPREAD AND IN AREAS LIKE LONG BEACH ISLAND IN OCEAN COUNTY, HEALTH LEADERS ARE SEEING THE RISING CASES.

>> WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASING CASE ACTIVITY AMONG ALL AGE RANGES, THAT IS IN COMPARISON TO LAST MONTH, WHERE WE HAD SINGLE-DIGIT NUMBERS PICK SO, REALLY, WE ARE TRACKING WHAT WE ARE SEEING, BOTH LOCALLY, REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY, AN INCREASE IN COVID-19 INFECTION.

>> Reporter: LONG BEACH HEALTH OFFICER, DANIEL, SAID THE SINGLE-DIGIT NUMBERS JUMP TO 31 REPORTED INFECTIONS FOR JULY AND AS OF THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, THERE ARE ALREADY 10 MORE NEW REPORTED INFECTIONS.

>> I THINK WHAT OCCURRED IS A LOT OF THE MEASURES AND RESTRICTIONS HAVE COME OFF.

WE HAD, FOR LACK OF BETTER TERMS, KIND OF A HONEYMOON PERIOD HERE, WHERE EVERYONE IS BACK OUT WITHOUT THE RESTRICTIONS AND THE ONLY BARRIER WE HAD IS THE VACCINE AND WE ARE FINDING THAT IS NOT, IS NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP THIS PANDEMIC AT BAY.

>> Reporter: PARTIES HAPPENING IN THE BEACH HAVEN ALSO BEEN BLAMED.

>> WHEN WE WHERE LOOKING AT THE CASES WITH THE TEENS AND THE OUTBREAK WHERE THEY ALL ATTENDED A PARTY TOGETHER, THIS BROUGHT UP VERY GRAVE CONCERNS, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT SEEMS TO BE AN UNREGULATED, UNSTRUCTURED PROTOCOL, WHEREBY IT WASN'T, FOR CERTAIN THAT THE ATTENDEES HAD BEEN VACCINATED, WHETHER THEY WERE CHECKING FOR PROOF OF VACCINATIONS, AND WE SAW AN UPTICK OF CASES JUST FROM ONE SINGLE EVENT.

THAT REALLY RAISES CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE LET THEIR GUARD DOWN AND WE WILL SEE TRANSMISSION RATES GO OUT.

>> Reporter: MONMOUTH COUNTY ALSO SEEING A SEARCH, THE COMMISSIONER RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING MONMOUTH COUNTY IS A POPULAR TOURISM DESTINATION, ALONG WITH VISITORS SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASING SINCE THE PUBLIC AT EMERGENCY ENDED, IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT NUMBERS WOULD INCREASE.

GOOD NEWS, WE ARE NOT SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS OR DEATHS AT THIS TIME.

>> WE WERE MASKS INSIDE, WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO WEAR MASKS WHEN NECESSARY, WITHOUT RUINING THE JERSEY SHORE AND HAVING TO WEAR MASKS ONLY INSIDE AND NOT ON THE BEACHES.

>> Reporter: WITH A NUMBER OF CASES INCREASING IN THE PANDEMIC STILL PRESENT, HEALTH OFFICIALS MAINTAIN GETTING VACCINATED IS STILL ONE OF THE BEST OPTIONS.

>> GENERALLY SPEAKING, OUR PRIMARY POPULATION HERE, MANY OVER THE AGE OF 65.

WE HAVE A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF VACCINATION WITH OUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE, HOWEVER AS YOU GO DOWN IN AGE RANGES, NATIONALLY, THE YOUNGER YOU ARE, THE LESS VACCINE COVERAGE WE HAVE IN THAT IS BEGINNING TO COME TO BE A PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: OFFICIALS ARE REMINDING PEOPLE TO TAKE THE SAME PRECAUTIONS LIKE WEARING A MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN POSSIBLE, REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> IS COLLEGE STUDENTS GET READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MANY FACE A VACCINE MANDATE FROM THE SCHOOLS.

TONIGHT, THERE ARE REPORTS THAT SOME STUDENTS ARE BUYING FAKE VACCINATION CARDS AS A WAY TO AVOID GETTING A SHOT.

IT IS HAPPENING IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THE FBI SAYS IT IS ALSO INVESTIGATING A FAKE VACCINE CARD SHAME IN CHICAGO.

SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T HEARD REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING IN JERSEY.

BUYING OR SELLING A FAKE CARD IS A FEDERAL CRIME AND GETTING CAUGHT COMES WITH HEFTY FINES.

>>> TO SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL REPORT IS PROVIDED BY AND HORIZON BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF BLUECROSS AND BLUESHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE, TAKE A DETOUR OR SIT ON A BROKEN DOWN TRAIN AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IS SORELY NEEDED IN OUR STATE.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS BILLIONS OF FEDERAL AID IS ON THE WAY, ASSUMING CONGRESS PASSES A NEW INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT DAVID CRUISE TOOK A LOOK AT HOW MUCH WORK HAS TO BE DONE IN THE GARDEN STATE AND HOW OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES GOT INTO SUCH BAD SHAPE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> NEW JERSEY IS WELL KNOWN FOR ITS WONDERFUL BEACHES, FARMLAND AND DOWNTOWN, BUT GETTING TO AND FROM AND AROUND THEM CAN BE A REAL PAIN.

YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT THE GAS TAX, OVER $.50 A GALLON NOW, WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT, BUT YOU NEED A LOT MORE THAN THAT TO LIFT AND TALK THE STATES ASSETS.

ALMOST 8% OF OUR BRIDGES ARE STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND, THAT IS ABOUT 542.

900 POWER OUTAGES BETWEEN 2008 AND 2017.

ALMOST 40% OF OUR ROADS ARE IN POOR CONDITION.

COSTING YOU OVER $700 A YEAR IN CAR REPAIRS.

ALMOST A QUARTER OF $1 BILLION IN DEFERRED PARK MAINTENANCE, NOT TO MENTION, 952 MILES OF RAIL AND 405 MILLION ANNUAL TRIPS ON LOCAL TRANSIT.

THAT IS BUSES, LIGHT RAIL AND THE LIKE.

>> THAT, WE HAVE KNOWN FOR YEARS BECAUSE OF A DISINVESTMENT IN OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE FAILED TO INVEST DOLLARS PROPERLY AND PRIORITIZE FIXIT FIRST OVEREXPANSION AND THAT HAS LEFT US WITH THE BACKLOG THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE IN ONE OR TWO YEARS.

'S >> Reporter: IT WILL TAKE THAT BUTTOCKS AND SUSTAINED EFFORT, BUT THE BILL THAT CONGRESS APPEARS TO BE ON THE WAY TO APPROVING IS A GOOD START FOR NEW JERSEY, BOTH AS A HEDGE AGAINST ANY ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY AND AS INVESTMENT IN FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

>> WE ARE VERY IN IS THE ASTEC ABOUT THE PROVISIONS IN THIS LEGISLATION, DEALING WITH THE CLEANER GRID.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO MOVE POWER AROUND, ESPECIALLY FROM SOLAR OR WIND OR WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE GRID CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT AND BE MORE EFFICIENT.

>> Reporter: THE WHITE HOUSE WAS TOUTING $12 BILLION OF IMPACT ON NEW JERSEY, INCLUDING 6.6 BILLION FOR HIGHWAYS, 1 BILLION FOR PRE-BRIDGES, 4 MILLION FOR MASS TRANSIT AND 104 MILLION FOR ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AND ANOTHER HUNDRED MILLION FOR HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.

JENNA OF THE TRI-STATE TRANSPORTATION CAMPAIGN SET ALONG WITH THAT FEDERAL INVESTMENT SHOULD COME SOME NEW THINKING ABOUT HOW THOSE OF US WHO USE MASS TRANSIT ACTUALLY USE IT, LIKE NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS AND IN BETWEEN TWO AND THREE JOBS.

>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID-19, NUMBER OF RESIDENTS RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THEY ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, RESIDENTS WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE AND WE NEED THAT INVESTMENT.

>> Reporter: TAKE DOWNTOWN JERSEY, A TURNPIKE EXTENSION AND SEVERAL STATE HIGHWAYS ALL CONVERGE, OFTEN QUITE CHAOTICALLY.

>> WE ADDED THOUSANDS OF NEW HOMES AND APARTMENTS BUT WHAT WAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN?

WHAT WAS THE PLAN ON SEWERS, ROADS, SCHOOLS?

IT'S IMPORTANT NOT JUST FOR DOWNTURN BUT FOR NEW JERSEY RIGHT NOW.

WE WANT BRIBERY, DENSE URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS BUT THEY WILL NOT WORK IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO LIVE THERE.

>> Reporter: WHAT WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED IS THE GATEWAY TUNNEL PROJECT, SO SIGNIFICANT IS THAT THAT IT IS NOT EVEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE NUMBERS FOR NEW JERSEY, FUNDING FROM THAT IS COMING FROM ELSEWHERE, MEANWHILE ON THE LINES, WITH THE VOTE EXPECTED WHEN CONGRESS RETURNS FROM THEIR SUMMER RECESS.

DAVID CRUISE, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> AMAZON IS BRINGING MORE JOBS TO NEW JERSEY, THE COMPANY JUST SIGNED A 20 YEAR LEASE WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP A NEW AIR CARGO HUB AT NEWARK AIRPORT.

IT WILL SPEND $125 MILLION ON THE FACILITY, WHICH COULD OPEN IN EARLY 2023.

AMAZON SAYS IT EXPECTS TO HIRE 1000 PEOPLE TO STAFF AT.

IN THE MEANTIME, AMAZON IS DELAYING THE RETURN OF ITS OFFICE STAFF DUE TO THE RIGHT AND THE DELTA VARIANT.

OFFICE WORKERS WERE SUPPOSED TO RETURN AFTER LABOR DAY, BUT AMAZON IS PUSHING THE RETURN DATE TO EARLY JANUARY.

>>> THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO BOUNCE BACK FROM THE PANDEMIC WITH A BIG JUMP IN HIRING LAST MONTH.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FELL TO 5.4% IN JULY, DOWN FROM 5.9% AS COMPANIES ADDED NEW JOBS AT THE FASTEST PACE IN NEARLY A YEAR.

THE U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS 943,000 NEW POSITIONS WERE ADDED LAST MONTH.

THAT NUMBER DOES INCLUDE THOUSANDS HIRED AT SCHOOLS AHEAD OF THE START OF CLASSES.

EVEN SO, THE JOB GAINS WERE BETTER THAN FORECAST.

WE ALSO SAW EVIDENCE THE COMPANIES ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND WORKERS BECAUSE THEY HAD TO RAISE WAGES TO GET THEM IN THE DOOR.

AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS ROSE 4% LAST MONTH COMPARED TO A YEAR EARLIER.

>>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S STOCK MARKET ACTION ON THIS FRIDAY.

>>> THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT LEARNING LOSS, AND SOME STUDENTS STRUGGLED WITH GOING TO SCHOOL REMOTELY.

NEW DATA SUGGESTS THE LEARNING LOSS WAS EXTENSIVE AND NEWARK'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

FOR STUDENTS IN SECOND THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, JUST 9% MET STATE EXPECTATIONS IN MATH BASED ON TESTING AND JUST 11% MET EXPECTATIONS IN READING.

PATRICK WALD JOINS ME NOW WITH MORE.

PATRICK, THESE NUMBERS SHOW THE STAGGERING EFFECT THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON LEARNING AND YOUNG STUDENTS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT LED TO THESE LOW TEST SCORES?

>> THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY, WHAT THE DATA IS SHOWING, THE REALLY SOBERING NUMBERS WE SEE HERE IS PART OF A NATIONAL TREND AND ACROSS NEW JERSEY.

STUDENT STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR BEHIND AND MADE LESS PROGRESS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR THAN THEY NORMALLY WOULD AND WE SAW THAT ESPECIALLY BLACK, HISPANIC AND LOW INCOME STUDENTS WERE MOST AFFECTED AND MADE THE STEEPEST DECLINES.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CONSENSUS AMONG EDUCATORS IS A BIG REASON AS A REMOTE LEARNING IS JUST NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS IN- PERSON INSTRUCTION AND ON TOP OF THAT, A LOT OF STUDENTS DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO RELIABLE INTERNET TO EVEN GET ONLINE OR THEY HAD ISSUES GOING ON AT HOME.

THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD TO LOOK AFTER YOUNGER SIBLINGS OR GET JOBS OR IN SOME CASES, FAMILY MEMBERS GOT SICK.

ALL KINDS OF THINGS WERE HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL THAT DEFINITELY HAD AN IMPACT.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY IS MANDATING MASKS IN ALL SCHOOLS STARTING THIS FALL.

IF WE SEE THESE CASES REALLY PICK UP AND THERE IS A DECISION TO GO BACK TO REMOTE LEARNING, WILL THE STUDENTS BE ABLE TO SURVIVE ANOTHER YEAR OF THAT?

>> I THINK IT WOULD DEFINITELY CREATE REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR PROGRESS.

I THINK THERE IS NOT HARD EVIDENCE YET, THERE IS STILL EMERGING RESEARCH ON WHAT EXACTLY CAUSE THESE STEEP DECLINES BUT NO LONGER STUDENTS ARE OUT OF PHYSICAL CLASSROOMS, THE MORE REGRESSION THEY MADE.

THE LONGER THEY HAD TO LEARN FROM HOME ON COMPUTERS, THE LESS PROGRESS THEY WERE MAKING.

IF THEY DO HAVE TO LEARN REMOTELY, THAT COULD INCLUDE ALL SCHOOLS HAVING TO BE A REMOTE BUT IF THERE ARE QUARANTINES BECAUSE OF INFECTIONS THAT COME UP DUE TO THE DELTA VARIANT, THAT COULD COULD CONTINUE TO IMPACT STUDENT LEARNING.

>> IN YOUR ARTICLE, YOU SET A HARVARD PROFESSOR CALLED THIS A CALL TO ACTION, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET STUDENTS BACK ON TRACK?

I WOULD SAY, AND THE RESEARCHERS I SPOKE WITH THE GRADE, THEIR FIRST HAS TO BE A PUBLIC, I THINK, HONEST DISCUSSION ABOUT THESE NUMBERS.

DIFFERENT DISTRICTS HAVE THIS DATA THEY GOT FROM TEST STUDENTS TOOK.

THE FIRST STEP IS SAYING HERE IS WHAT THE DATA SHOW, HERE IS WHERE STUDENTS WILL START THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THEN THERE HAS TO BE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THE PLAN TO CATCH THEM UP?

DISTRICTS ARE GETTING A TON OF AID TO HELP THEM DO THIS.

NEW WORK IS GETTING MORE THAN $280 MILLION TO HELP WITH PANDEMIC RECOVERY AND SOME OF THAT SHOULD GO TO LEARNING LOSS.

I THINK FAMILIES WILL WANT TO ASK, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO CATCH UP STUDENTS?

HOW WILL THEY TRACK PROGRESS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AND HOW THEY SPENT THIS FEDERAL MONEY?

>> WAS IT A LAST YEAR?

>> I WOULD SAY, I WOULD SAY MOST TEACHERS WOULD SAY IT'S NOT A COMPLETE LOSS, STUDENTS LEARNED SOME MATERIAL AND LIFE LESSONS ABOUT RESILIENCY, BUT I DO THINK IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF LEARNING MAY GOD, DID NOT COMPARE AT ALL TO WHAT THEY WOULD'VE LEARNED IN A NORMAL YEAR, SO THERE WAS LEARNING LOSS BUT I WOULDN'T CALL THE ENTIRE YEAR A LOSS.

>> PATRICK, THANK YOU.

>>> TO FIND OUT MORE, HAD TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG.

AN INTERESTING RACE SHAPING UP NEW JERSEY 16th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, WHERE REPUBLICAN MICHAEL PAPPAS IS FACING DEMOCRAT, ANDREW IS AWAKE OR.

THEY ARE BOTH VYING FOR THE STATE SENATE SEAT HELD BY KIP BATEMAN WHO IS RETIRING AT THE END OF HIS TERM AFTER DECADES OF PUBLIC SERVICE PACK MICHAEL AARON SPOKE WITH PAPPAS A FEW WEEKS AGO AND NOW, HE GOES ON THE RECORD WHO IS TRYING TO BECOME THE FIRST DEMOCRAT TO WIN THE SENATE THE IN THAT DISTRICT.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US, LET'S START WITH THE NEWS OF THE DAY.

GOVERNOR MURPHY IS SET TO ANNOUNCE A MANDATE ON MASK WEARING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE HAVE TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE, THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT AND MASKS WILL SLOW DOWN THE TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19, BUT IT IS NOT THE SOLUTION.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

THIS IS A MEASURE THE GOVERNOR FELT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO PROTECT BOTH STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF.

>> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE 16th DISTRICT?

>> I'VE BEEN SO HONORED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE IN THE ASSEMBLY SENSE 2016.

I WON BY THE NARROWEST OF MARGINS BACK THEN AND I BECAME THE FIRST DEMOCRAT EVER ELECTED IN 16'S HISTORY.

SINCE THEN, I AM THE CHAIR OF THE SCIENCE COMMITTEE IN THE ASSEMBLY, WHERE WE FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB GROWTH.

WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.

I HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON ENSURING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS HERE IN NEW JERSEY AND FINALLY, MY BACKGROUND AS A SCIENTIST, I AM VERY FOCUSED ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW NEW JERSEY CAN CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> DO YOU THINK WE CAN GET HALF THE FLEET OF NEW CARS IN AMERICA TO BE ZERO EMISSION CARS BY 2030?

>> I'M NOT JUST A PROPONENT, I DRIVE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

I LOVE IT.

AS THE PRICE COMES DOWN AND WE BUILD OUT THE ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE, I THINK IT IS AN AMBITIOUS BUT DOABLE GOAL.

>> THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR HAILS FROM YOUR DISTRICT, YOU OCCUPY HIS SEAT, SO TO SPEAK.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT A COATTAIL AFFECT WITHIN SOMERSET COUNTY AND HIS HOME AREA THAT MIGHT SPILL OVER INTO THE ELECTION?

>> I AM FOCUSED ON THE SENATE CAMPAIGN.

I AM FOCUSED ON MY VISION FOR WHAT I SAY THAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN 16th AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

I CAN'T CONTROL WHAT IS HAPPENING, LET'S JUST ALL SAY FOCUSED ON THE SENATE ELECTION IN FRENEMY.

YOU KNOW, MIKE PAPPAS HAS BEEN OUT OF ELECTIVE OFFICE FOR DECADES AND I AM NOT QUITE SURE WHAT HIS VISION IS MOVING FORWARD.

I'M ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE HAS HAD A BUNCH OF EVENTS WHERE HE HAS SURROUNDED HIMSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENABLED PRESIDENT TRUMP, STOP THE STEEL AND HAVE DONE THINGS I THINK ARE REALLY ANTIDEMOCRATIC.

I BELIEVE I HAVE A VISION FOR THE DISTRICT IN THE STATE, THAT IS TO GROW DRABS, TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M PUTTING FORTH IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS OF THE 16th.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> THAT DOESN'T FOR US THIS WEEK.

IN THE MEANTIME, HEAD OVER TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.ORG OR ANY OF OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING OUR REPORTING.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER, FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

>>> RWJ BARNABUS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER .

>>> THE OCEAN PROJECT AND PSE&G, WE MAKE THINGS WORK FOR COMMUNITIES .