Education in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3750: Requires institutions of higher education and proprietary degree-granting institutions that have agreements with online program managers to disclose online program information.

This bill requires colleges and universities in New Jersey that partner with online program managers to publicly disclose specific details about their online degree and certificate programs. The law mandates that these institutions post information on their websites, including the name of the online program manager, admission requirements, tuition costs for online versus on-campus programs, and financial aid details such as availability, average amounts, and the percentage of students receiving aid. This transparency measure directly affects students and families seeking higher education by providing clearer information about the programs and costs associated with online learning options.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 16, 2026

S 3871: Directs Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to increase income protection allowance used in determining eligibility of independent adult student for Tuition Aid Grant Program.

This bill directs New Jersey's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to raise the income protection allowance for independent adult students applying for the Tuition Aid Grant Program. The change aligns the state's calculation method with the federal standard used for Pell Grants, allowing more of a student's income to be disregarded when determining financial eligibility. Independent adult students will benefit from potentially higher aid eligibility as the state formula becomes more generous. The law takes effect immediately and applies to grants awarded in the first academic year after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 12, 2026

S 3886: Appropriates $3 million annually to Freedom Schools in New Jersey using funds collected under Social Equity Excise Fee.

This bill directs $3 million in annual funding from the Social Equity Excise Fee, a tax on cannabis sales, to support Freedom Schools across New Jersey. The money will be allocated to the Department of State to provide financial assistance for these programs, which offer academic summer classes and year-round tutoring and homework help to K-12 students and their families. The legislation overrides previous funding restrictions to ensure this specific revenue stream is used for this purpose. The act takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4584: Establishes pilot program to study feasibility of regionalization of certain school districts; appropriates $150,000.

This bill creates a pilot program to study how New Jersey school districts could combine existing high schools with local elementary and middle schools to form unified K-12 regional districts. It authorizes the State Department of Education to select three pilot sites across the state and provides $150,000 in funding to support feasibility studies and planning grants for participating districts. If the pilot shows success, the bill outlines a process requiring voter approval in each municipality before implementation, along with state financial incentives to help cover initial costs. The program includes a five-year implementation phase and an independent evaluation component to assess impacts on student achievement, finances, and community satisfaction.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 10, 2026

S 3861: Requires institution of higher education to collect certain information concerning student parents.

This bill requires New Jersey colleges and universities to gather and report specific data about undergraduate students who are parents or legal guardians of children under 18. Under the legislation, institutions must submit an annual report to the Secretary of Higher Education by July 1 each year, detailing the number of student parents enrolled in both full-time and part-time programs broken down by demographic groups, along with their academic outcomes such as transfer, withdrawal, and graduation rates. The reports must be made publicly available on each institution's website, and the state secretary will compile a statewide summary of this data for public access. All collected information must remain confidential and comply with privacy laws, ensuring no personal identifying details are disclosed.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4568: Permits boards of education to provide chess instruction to students in grades two through eight in certain circumstances.

This bill allows New Jersey school boards to offer chess instruction to students in grades two through eight who are enrolled in gifted and talented or special education programs. The legislation amends existing state law to authorize these educational opportunities while permitting the Department of Education to create guidelines for implementation. The bill does not mandate chess programs but rather provides schools with the option to include chess as part of their curriculum for specific student populations.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum Special Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 3987: Requires each school district with middle school or high school to establish food services advisory committee to consider menu options that reflect students' cultural, traditional, and dietary preferences.

This bill requires middle and high school districts in New Jersey to create food services advisory committees that recommend menu options reflecting students' cultural, traditional, and dietary preferences. The committees will include students, parents, school staff, and food service employees, and must meet at least three times per year to review menu options while considering nutritional standards and budget constraints. Districts must survey students to identify unmet food preferences, and if students request vegetarian or vegan options, schools must make reasonable efforts to include them in their meal programs.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 10, 2026

S 3869: Broadens epinephrine administration mechanisms permitted in schools, institutions of higher education, and youth camps.

This bill expands the rules for administering epinephrine in New Jersey schools, colleges, and youth camps to help students with severe allergic reactions. It allows school nurses and trained staff to give epinephrine without waiting for specific parental paperwork in emergencies, while also requiring schools to keep a supply of auto-injectors readily available. The law clarifies that athletic trainers can legally administer epinephrine without violating licensing rules and ensures students are transported to hospitals after treatment even if symptoms improve. Schools must still maintain written policies for storing and using these medications, with backup doses kept on hand for unexpected situations.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3803: Establishes pilot program to create student mental health assistance programs in selected school districts.

This bill establishes a four-year pilot program in New Jersey to create mental health assistance programs for students in grades K-12 within selected school districts. The program would require participating districts to appoint student assistance counselors trained to identify students facing mental health challenges, provide confidential support services, and connect students with community resources. Up to 15 districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas across the state's northern, central, and southern regions would be selected to participate, with districts required to submit funding plans for sustaining the program after the pilot concludes. At the end of the pilot, each district must report on the number of students served and program effectiveness, and the Commissioner of Education will submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature with recommendations on whether to expand the program statewide.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 16, 2026

A 4682: Establishes certain annual certification compliance requirements for school bus contractors; requires Office of School Bus Safety to establish certification compliance pilot program.

This bill requires school bus contractors in New Jersey to submit annual certifications for each driver, including background checks and license verification, by August 15 before the school year begins. It mandates the Office of School Bus Safety to create an automated system that sends weekly electronic alerts to contractors who miss deadlines and notifies school districts if they remain noncompliant after 10 days. The bill also establishes a two-year pilot program offering incentives like priority in bidding or reduced fees to contractors who meet certification requirements on time, while allowing the commissioner to impose penalties or bar noncompliant contractors from future contracts.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics School Transportation Professional Licensing Public Transit

All education bills