This bill establishes a two-year pilot program within New Jersey's Department of Education to improve mental health support for middle and high school students. It requires the Commissioner of Education to select six school districts (representing all regions and urban/suburban/rural settings) based on applications detailing student demographics, current mental health services, and staff availability. Participating districts must develop innovative approaches to increase mental health awareness and teach stress-management skills. After two years, the Commissioner must report to the Governor and Legislature on the program's implementation and whether it should continue or expand.
This bill (S 2579) extends New Jersey's in-state tuition eligibility to spouses and dependents of active-duty military service members when the service member is transferred to another state. It ensures that if a military spouse or dependent was already enrolled in a New Jersey public college or university before the transfer, they can continue to qualify for in-state tuition rates - provided they maintain continuous enrollment at the same institution. The law directly affects military-connected students who face relocation due to service, preventing them from losing affordable tuition status during temporary relocations. It builds on existing protections for military dependents who attended New Jersey high school for three years.
This bill creates a state loan program to help New Jersey school districts facing significant operating budget shortfalls. School districts with shortfalls that would force cuts to nonmandatory programs - such as advanced placement courses, sports teams, music programs, and kindergarten - may apply for state loans through a new "School District Budget Relief Loan Account." To qualify, districts must demonstrate they spent below state adequacy levels in the prior year, increased property taxes by at least 2% annually for five years, and cannot resolve the shortfall through program cuts or tax hikes. The bill also allows districts to delay budget submission deadlines and public hearings until a loan decision is made.
This bill allows public high school students in New Jersey who observe Ramadan to opt out of required physical education classes and sports participation during the holy month. Students may substitute PE with an instructional course or study hall (earning equivalent graduation credits) by submitting written notice to their principal before scheduling. Student-athletes may also be excused from sports or cheerleading programs by notifying their coach, with coaches prohibited from penalizing such absences. The policy specifically accommodates Muslim students' religious obligation to fast during Ramadan, without exempting them from other required health education courses.
This bill requires New Jersey public schools and colleges to adopt policies explicitly prohibiting antisemitic harassment, intimidation, and bullying, with clear definitions and disciplinary actions like suspension or expulsion for violations. It mandates Holocaust and antisemitism education in K-12 curricula, including lessons on recent antisemitic incidents and the consequences of prejudice. Schools must also provide guidelines distinguishing lawful protests from prohibited conduct, such as vandalism, obstruction, or affiliation with groups like Hamas. The law applies to all public educational institutions in New Jersey, effective upon implementation.
This bill (S 1934) clarifies that New Jersey courts must consider post-high school educational expenses when determining child support for unemancipated children. It specifically adds "higher education factors" to the list of considerations courts must weigh, including a child's need for college and the parents' financial capacity. The bill does not create new funding but requires courts to account for foreseeable college costs in support orders. It directly affects parents obligated to pay child support and courts handling those cases. The change applies only to children who have not become legally independent (e.g., due to disability or ongoing education).
This bill creates a $1,500 nonrefundable state income tax credit for New Jersey residents who meet specific criteria. To qualify, a taxpayer must have graduated from both a New Jersey high school and a New Jersey institution of higher education (public or private nonprofit) with a 3.5+ GPA, then work full-time (25+ hours/week) for a New Jersey-based employer within two years of graduation. The credit applies for the first five consecutive tax years of eligible employment, but cannot reduce tax liability below zero. It directly targets recent NJ college graduates seeking to remain in-state for employment, aiming to incentivize retention in the state's workforce.
This bill requires all New Jersey high schools serving grades 9-12 to offer at least one computer science course starting in the 2022-2023 school year. The course must cover computing principles, hardware/software design, and technology's societal impact, as defined in the bill. Schools must provide high-quality courses in flexible formats - including traditional classrooms, online, or blended learning - to accommodate all students. It directly affects public high school students and district boards of education across New Jersey.
New Jersey's S 779 requires high school students in grade 11 and above to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of their graduation requirements, starting in the first full school year after the bill takes effect. Students may request an exemption by submitting a signed form from a parent/guardian or, if 18+, by their own request. The bill also mandates that the state education commissioner provide schools and families clear resources with step-by-step instructions for completing the FAFSA. This policy directly affects New Jersey public high school students and aims to increase access to federal financial aid by integrating FAFSA completion into graduation pathways.
This bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to provide full-day kindergarten programs by specific deadlines: high-need districts (A, B, CD, DE) by 2020-2021, and others by 2021-2022. It also establishes a uniform age requirement, mandating that children must turn 5 years old by October 1 of the school year to enroll in kindergarten - replacing current district-determined cutoff dates. The bill directly affects all school districts and kindergarten students, standardizing enrollment rules and program requirements statewide. It amends existing education laws to ensure consistent access to full-day kindergarten programs across all districts.
