Education

This bill, S 247, would eliminate New Jersey's statewide high school graduation proficiency test requirement. It directly affects all New Jersey public high school students, removing the mandate to pass a state-administered test in reading, writing, and math for graduation. The bill deletes references to the "High School Proficiency Test" from existing education laws and shifts responsibility to local school districts to establish their own graduation standards. Instead of a statewide test, districts would set their own criteria for student proficiency, with the State Board of Education no longer requiring the test as part of graduation standards. The bill is pending before the Senate Education Committee.

S 3246 requires all New Jersey public school districts to adopt policies setting temperature standards for school buildings. These policies must ensure classrooms maintain a learning-friendly environment by designating staff to monitor temperatures, creating protocols for extreme conditions, and aligning with existing indoor air quality standards. School boards must also follow local building and fire codes when implementing temperature controls. The Department of Education and Department of Health will jointly create guidance to help districts comply. The law takes effect July 1 of the school year following its enactment.

This bill reestablishes a state education aid program providing $500 per student to school districts located in New Jersey municipalities where over 51% of residents are age 65 or older (based on the 2000 census). It directly affects school districts in qualifying communities like Manchester Township and Berkeley Township, which are part of the Central Regional School District. The aid is calculated based on projected student enrollment in these areas and is added to existing state funding without adjustment for actual enrollment. The program, previously repealed in 2008, aims to stabilize school funding in communities with high senior populations by reducing municipal tax burdens.