Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 294: Requires certain school districts and DOE to address chronic absenteeism.

This bill requires New Jersey school districts with a chronic absenteeism rate of 10% or higher (or individual schools at 15%+) to form attendance review teams. These teams, including school staff and community partners, must address cases of chronically absent students and recommend interventions. The Department of Education must also create an online prevention plan within six months, including definitions of chronic absenteeism, causes, academic impacts, and data-tracking methods to monitor attendance by school, grade, and student demographics. The plan may also include mentorship models and incentives for schools improving attendance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires attendance review teams and prevention plans for chronic absenteeism, enhancing student access and educational outcomes in K-12 schools.90% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1157: Establishes student-athlete mental health specialists in school districts and public institutions of higher education; creates student-athlete mental health registry; makes appropriation.

This bill requires New Jersey public school districts to appoint a licensed mental health specialist for student-athletes participating in interscholastic or intramural sports programs. The specialist must conduct three annual mental health screenings per season (more for multi-sport athletes), provide weekly support for injured athletes, and develop a district-wide mental health policy. Schools must collect aggregated, non-identifiable data from screenings and submit it to the state department annually. Parental consent is required for screenings, and students without consent cannot participate in sports. The bill also creates a state mental health registry for aggregated data and makes funding available for implementation. (Introduced January 13, 2026; pending in Senate Education Committee)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly requires state appropriation for mental health specialists and registry implementation, directly funding new public services within state budget.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health specialists for student-athletes, requires screenings/support, and develops district policies - enhancing student well-being programs in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health specialists, screenings, and data collection for student-athletes, expanding access to mental health services through school districts and appropriation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 802: Expands Community College Opportunity Grant Program to include career and technical education programs at county colleges and county vocational schools.

This bill (S 802) expands New Jersey's existing Community College Opportunity Grant Program to cover tuition and fees for career and technical education programs at county vocational schools and county colleges. It directly affects adult students enrolled in these programs who meet income limits ($0-$65,000 annual adjusted gross income) and other eligibility criteria. The key mechanism adds "career and technical education" to the program’s scope, allowing students to receive grants covering costs not covered by other aid, while maintaining existing requirements like residency and academic standing. The program remains administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority for student grants and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education for college support funding.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands grant coverage for career/tech education, increasing access for low-income adult students at vocational schools and colleges.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2684: Prohibits banning and restricting access to books in public libraries.

S 2684 prohibits all public library governing bodies in New Jersey (including county, regional, municipal, and joint libraries) from banning or restricting access to books or educational resources in their collections, except when required by federal law. The bill does not require libraries to purchase or acquire new books for their collections. It specifically applies to governing bodies like library boards, county commissions, and directors, ensuring existing materials remain accessible. This law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits banning library books, directly protecting educational resource access and student access to diverse materials per topic description.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SJR 45: Urges President and Congress of United States to enact student loan forgiveness program for teachers in military-impacted communities.

This New Jersey joint resolution urges the U.S. President and Congress to enact a federal student loan forgiveness program for teachers working in schools serving military-impacted communities. It specifically requests that teachers employed for five consecutive years in such schools receive up to $17,500 in federal student loan cancellation. A military-impacted community is defined as one where at least 20% of students have a parent on active duty. The resolution aims to help recruit and retain teachers who support military-connected students facing school transitions due to parental relocations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill proposes federal student loan forgiveness for teachers in military-impacted schools, directly supporting educator retention and recruitment through financial aid.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides student loan forgiveness ($17,500) as a financial benefit to teachers, directly aiding recruitment/retention in the workforce, aligning with worker benefit expansion.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 690: Requires four-year public institutions of higher education to require undergraduate students to complete course on climate change.

S 690 would require New Jersey's four-year public colleges to mandate that all new full-time undergraduate students complete a climate change course before graduating. The course must dedicate at least 30% of its content to climate change and be offered across multiple academic disciplines, such as engineering or business. This requirement applies only to students enrolling at these institutions on or after the law's effective date. The bill does not specify which courses must be offered but directs colleges to identify existing courses meeting the 30% content threshold.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates climate change curriculum requirement in higher education, enhancing educational content and student learning standards as per topic's curriculum focus.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates climate change education in higher ed, promoting environmental awareness and understanding per bill's requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Climate Change

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 669: Establishes natural disaster relief grant program in DEP; appropriates $250 million.

This bill establishes a DEP-administered grant program to help local governments and school districts repair facilities damaged by climate change-related disasters like flooding or storms. It provides grants covering up to 50% of eligible project costs, with $250 million allocated from the General Fund into a dedicated Climate Change Relief Fund. The program requires the DEP to set eligibility rules, application procedures, and annual reports on program effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature. It directly affects municipalities, school districts, and county agencies with climate-damaged infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $250M from General Fund for climate disaster relief grants, funding public infrastructure repairs via dedicated state budget appropriation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $250M for school facility repairs after climate disasters, directly funding K-12 infrastructure maintenance and access.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates $250M via DEP for climate change-related disaster recovery, directly addressing climate impacts and funding environmental resilience efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Climate Change Coastal & Flood Protection Natural Disasters

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 2, 2026

S 1376: Requires public schools that offer student psychological services to offer remote sessions.

S 1376 requires New Jersey public school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects that employ a school psychologist and offer in-person counseling to also provide virtual or remote counseling sessions for students in grades K-12. The bill mandates that schools permit remote sessions unless a school psychologist determines in-person counseling is necessary for a student's well-being. Students retain the right to choose in-person sessions if they prefer, and the law defines "school psychologist" as a certified professional with a New Jersey educational services certificate. This policy change ensures continued access to psychological services for students who cannot attend in-person sessions, such as due to health, transportation, or scheduling needs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates remote psychological services in schools, expanding access to student mental health support without restricting in-person options, directly enhancing educational access and student well-being.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates remote mental health services in schools, expanding access to psychological support for K-12 students, directly advancing mental health care access under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2830: Requires local boards of education to employ at least one school social worker per school.

S 2830 mandates that every New Jersey public school must employ at least one full-time school social worker, defined as a certified professional with a school social worker endorsement. Schools with over 500 students must add additional social workers in proportion to their enrollment. This requirement applies to all local school districts and takes effect for the first full school year after the bill becomes law. The bill directly affects school districts, students, and social workers by establishing specific staffing standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school social workers to enhance student support services, directly strengthening K-12 student programs and access to mental health resources in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school social workers, directly expanding mental health services in schools per healthcare topic's mental health focus.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1191: Establishes luggage donation program for children in resource family care in DCF.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) to create a luggage donation program for children in resource family care (defined as youth under 21 placed by DCF). The program allows individuals to donate new or slightly used, clean luggage (suitcases, backpacks, etc.) for children to use when entering care, moving between homes, attending college, or aging out. DCF must contract with community organizations to accept, store, and distribute donated luggage meeting quality standards, and submit annual reports on the program's effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides luggage for foster youth to attend college, expanding educational access for vulnerable students in higher education.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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