AR 22 is a non-binding Assembly Resolution urging New Jersey's K-12 schools and colleges to include veterans and active military members in discussions about military service, values, and leadership. It specifically encourages institutions to integrate these perspectives into educational programming, particularly during Veterans Month in November. The resolution does not mandate changes but recommends fostering student connections with service members to promote appreciation for military values like integrity and selfless service. It applies to all public educational institutions across New Jersey.
This bill requires New Jersey's State Board of Education to reinstate the ASVAB-AFQT (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery-Armed Forces Qualifying Test) as an approved alternative assessment for meeting high school graduation requirements. It directly affects public high school students who need to demonstrate proficiency in state standards, allowing them to use the ASVAB-AFQT score instead of the standard graduation test. The bill adds ASVAB-AFQT back to the list of approved "substitute competency tests" that were previously removed from the 2024-2025 graduation pathways. This change provides students with an additional, standardized option to prove they meet graduation standards without needing to retake the state test.
This bill establishes a streamlined process for teachers with valid out-of-state teaching certificates to obtain New Jersey teaching credentials. It applies to educators holding equivalent "certificate of eligibility" or "certificate of eligibility with advanced standing" from another state, requiring recent teaching experience (within the last two school years), two letters of recommendation (including one from a supervisor), a background check, and New Jersey residency. The State Board of Education must create rules to implement this reciprocity, ensuring the out-of-state certificate matches New Jersey's grade level or subject endorsements. This policy directly affects teachers seeking to work in New Jersey public schools while holding valid credentials from another state.
This bill requires New Jersey public schools to add specific, age-appropriate instruction about cannabis and marijuana risks to health and physical education curricula for grades 3-12. It mandates teaching students about cannabis' effects on adolescent brains and bodies, THC's impact, addiction risks, driving under influence dangers, differences between medicinal and recreational use, and factors influencing usage decisions. The Department of Education must develop this content in consultation with the Division of Addiction Services. The policy takes effect 60 days after enactment, directly affecting all K-12 public school students and educators in New Jersey.
This bill would have required New Jersey public school districts to teach cursive handwriting to students in kindergarten through fifth grade, with a specific goal for students to read and write cursive legibly by the end of third grade. It mandated that school curricula include activities and materials to develop these skills, citing potential cognitive and literacy benefits. The bill was introduced in January 2026 but was withdrawn the same day after being approved as part of a prior law (P.L.2025, c.284), meaning it never became law. It directly affected all public elementary schools and their curriculum planning. The bill's provisions would have taken effect for the first full school year following enactment.
This resolution (AR 111) urges New Jersey public high schools to establish "Pathways to Purpose Week" during the week of May 1. It directly affects high school students and administrators by encouraging schools to recognize and celebrate multiple post-graduation options - including college enrollment, apprenticeships, and military service - alongside traditional "College Decision Day" celebrations. The key provision requires schools to honor all pathways equally, addressing that nearly 30% of seniors do not pursue immediate college enrollment and apprenticeship participation has declined since 2016. The resolution is non-binding, recommending schools adopt this observance to highlight diverse success routes after high school.
This bill extends early intervention services to children aged three through five who are already receiving these services at age three. It requires the Department of Health to allow eligible children to continue receiving early intervention services until they turn six years old or become eligible for kindergarten, whichever occurs first. The services must comply with federal early intervention rules, including parental consent requirements. This change aims to minimize service disruptions during the transition from early intervention to school-based special education. The bill directly affects young children with developmental delays and their families in New Jersey.
This bill amends New Jersey's NJ STARS scholarship program to remove a one-year deadline for students who qualify for the scholarship but initially lack college readiness. It directly affects high school seniors in New Jersey who meet NJ STARS eligibility criteria but need remedial coursework to take college-level classes. The key change eliminates the requirement that these students must demonstrate readiness within one year of graduation, instead allowing their eligibility to remain active indefinitely as long as they meet the program's criteria when they enroll. This provides more time for students to complete necessary remediation before accessing the scholarship for up to five semesters of county college study.
S 3544 establishes the Teaching Scholars Loan Redemption Program within New Jersey's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. It provides eligible New Jersey high school graduates pursuing teaching degrees at in-state colleges with loan coverage (up to $40,000 for undergrad and $10,000 for grad school) in exchange for five years of full-time public school teaching in New Jersey. To qualify, applicants must be NJ residents, graduate from a NJ high school, exhaust all other grants/scholarships, and maintain academic standing. The program redeems up to $10,000 per year of teaching service, totaling $50,000 maximum, to address the state's educator shortage by incentivizing top graduates to become teachers.
This bill creates a $1,500 nonrefundable tax credit for New Jersey residents who meet specific criteria: graduating from a New Jersey high school and a New Jersey institution of higher education with a 3.5+ GPA, then working full-time (25+ hours/week) for a New Jersey employer within two years of graduation. The credit applies only to the first five consecutive tax years of eligible employment and cannot reduce tax liability below zero. It directly affects New Jersey graduates who pursue higher education and employment within the state, aiming to encourage retention in the state workforce. The credit is limited to undergraduate degree holders from public or private NJ institutions meeting the GPA and employment requirements.
