This bill establishes New Jersey's "Students with Communication Disabilities' Bill of Rights," requiring school districts to ensure students with communication disabilities (affecting speech, hearing, or vision) receive tailored support. It mandates schools provide early screening, trained assistants using a student's preferred communication method (like sign language or AAC devices), and communication plans in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Schools must also guarantee full access to all educational activities - from classrooms to extracurriculars - and ensure parents receive linguistic support. The law aligns with existing federal protections under the ADA and IDEA but codifies specific school district obligations.
S 2226 requires children under age 6 entering public preschools, public schools, or Head Start programs for the first time to have a comprehensive eye exam completed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist by January 1 of their initial enrollment year. Schools must collect proof of the exam from parents, and the state will maintain a list of low-cost or free exam resources for families on its website and provide it to schools. A new "Comprehensive Eye Examination Fund" will cover exam costs for uninsured children or those without healthcare coverage. The bill is pending in the Senate Education Committee after being introduced on January 13, 2026.
This bill changes how New Jersey public school teachers' pensions are calculated by requiring pay for extracurricular activities (such as coaching sports, directing performances, or supervising clubs) to be included in the "compensation" used for Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) calculations. It directly affects teachers whose pensions are based on TPAF, ensuring that additional pay for duties beyond regular school hours is counted toward their pension benefits. The bill specifically clarifies that this includes preparation and involvement in extracurricular activities but excludes temporary duties or salary adjustments made primarily for retirement purposes. This is a technical adjustment to the pension formula, not a new benefit.
This bill requires New Jersey school districts to teach students in grades 4-12 about menstrual toxic shock syndrome (TSS) as part of health education, covering causes, symptoms, and risk reduction. It also mandates that owners of public restrooms (with two or more toilets) in businesses like stores or offices install clear signs about TSS warning signs and risks, placed near tampon dispensers or prominently in the restroom. The state education agency must provide age-appropriate lesson materials, and the health department must create signage standards and online resources about TSS. The bill applies to public restrooms in non-school buildings (excluding elementary schools with only up to grade 5) and aims to improve public awareness of this rare but serious condition.
This bill requires lead screenings for children aged six months to six years at specific intervals: between 9-18 months, 18-26 months, and immediately before school entry (starting 2024-2025). It directly affects young children, parents/guardians (who must provide screening documentation), healthcare providers (who must conduct screenings), and schools (which must verify results before enrolling pre-K or kindergarten students). Schools cannot admit children without proof of the required screening, and healthcare providers must document results in permanent health records and share them on school enrollment forms. The law updates existing screening schedules and mandates documentation to ensure early detection of lead exposure, a known health risk for young children.
This bill establishes the Public Education Innovation Fund within New Jersey's Department of Education to provide grants to low-performing public schools for implementing educational innovation programs. Schools qualify if they meet specific academic performance thresholds based on state assessment results, such as high percentages of students scoring below proficiency in math or language arts. Businesses that donate to this fund receive tax credits - up to $10,000 annually for gross income tax, and corporation business tax credits - directly tied to their donations. The total tax credits available annually are capped at $5 million, with certifications issued on a first-come, first-served basis. The fund aims to address academic barriers through innovative strategies in schools meeting the defined performance criteria.
This bill prohibits public school staff from distributing campaign materials to students that promote, favor, or oppose any candidate for general, municipal, or school elections, or ballot issues. It directly affects public school students and staff in New Jersey, preventing schools from giving such materials to students or asking them to distribute them. The key change extends an existing ban (which previously covered only school elections) to all election types, requiring school boards to create rules enforcing this prohibition. The amendment makes it illegal for schools to share election-related literature with students on school property or grounds.
This bill (S 1071) amends New Jersey law to allow charter schools to limit admissions to students based on four specific categories: single gender, students at-risk of academic failure, students with disabilities, or English language learners. It directly affects charter schools in New Jersey by expanding their permitted admission criteria beyond current limits (which only allowed grade-level or academic concentration limits). The key mechanism updates Section 7 of P.L.1995, c.426 to explicitly include these categories, requiring schools to outline such criteria in their charter. The bill does not change existing prohibitions against discrimination based on other factors like disability or language proficiency.
S 2486 establishes a competitive grant program through New Jersey's Department of Education to fund organizations recruiting, training, and placing new teachers in high-poverty school districts. Eligible organizations (tax-exempt nonprofits with existing partnerships in districts where ≥40% of students are at-risk) receive grants matching their private contributions, up to $2 million annually for three years. The bill appropriates $6 million from the General Fund to cover these matching grants, targeting districts with high student poverty rates.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education to create and maintain a searchable website listing all educational programs and resources for students eligible for special education services. The website must include information on approved schools (both in-state and out-of-state), specialized programs for specific disabilities, assistive technologies, and support organizations, all organized to be easily accessible to families. It mandates that the site be searchable by keyword, disability type, and location, and updated annually. This directly affects students with disabilities, their families, and educational providers by centralizing critical resource information in one accessible location.
