Education in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 19, 2026

A 4760: Establishes five-year community schools pilot program.

This bill creates a five-year pilot program to establish community schools in New Jersey, which are public schools that partner with local organizations to provide integrated student supports, expanded learning time, family engagement, and collaborative leadership. The program will be managed by an external nonprofit or university organization selected by the state, which will provide training, technical assistance, and site coordinators to help schools implement community school models. Each county will have one public school assigned a site coordinator to oversee services and outreach, while the program will also develop statewide criteria for school selection and share best practices through a technical assistance center. The initiative directly affects school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools by offering them resources and support to coordinate educational, health, and family services for students and families year-round.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3785: Prohibits certain substances in sale, distribution, and manufacture of commercial foods for human consumption; bans certain substances in school food.

This bill prohibits the sale, distribution, and manufacture of specific substances in commercial foods for human consumption and bans certain artificial dyes in school food. It directly affects food manufacturers, retailers, and school districts in New Jersey by restricting the use of ingredients like brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and Red dye 3 in general food products, while also banning Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3 in school food. The legislation amends state food safety laws to classify foods containing these substances as adulterated and requires schools to exclude these dyes from all food and beverages served on school property.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 12, 2026

S 3913: Requires State Board of Education to evaluate historical events for inclusion in New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

This bill directs the New Jersey State Board of Education to review and update the state's Social Studies Student Learning Standards during the next scheduled revision to include instruction on recent historical events for students in grades K-12. The legislation specifically requires the board to consider adding standards related to the September 11, 2001 attacks and other historically significant events, while also allowing the board to determine additional events to include. The bill mandates that the board follow its existing public review and adoption process, which includes providing opportunities for public comment in person or in writing. Additionally, the law requires the board to evaluate new historical events for inclusion each time the standards are updated in the future.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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

A 4558: Requires local units of government to provide access to "user-friendly" budget information through link included on home page Internet site.

This New Jersey bill requires school districts to make budget information more accessible to the public by adding a prominent link on their website homepages that leads to user-friendly, plain-language budget documents. The law mandates that districts provide detailed financial data for high-paid school employees, including salary terms, benefits, and compensation details, in an easy-to-understand format. Additionally, the bill updates how school budgets must be presented, requiring clearer breakdowns of expenditures, revenue sources, and cost centers organized by grade levels. Local school districts are the primary entities affected, as they must comply with new formatting and disclosure requirements for their financial reporting.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics State Budget Tags Government Transparency

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

A 4592: Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to consider combined income of all cosigners on application for participation in New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan Program.

This bill requires the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to evaluate the combined income of all cosigners when determining eligibility for the NJCLASS student loan program. Currently, applicants with multiple cosigners might be denied if each individual cosigner falls below the minimum income threshold, even if their total household income qualifies. The legislation amends state law to ensure that the authority considers the total income of all cosigners together rather than assessing each cosigner separately. This change directly affects students and their families applying for NJCLASS loans, particularly those with multiple parents or guardians providing financial support. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 12, 2026

S 3933: Directs Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to provide security risk assessment guidance to certain institutions of higher education.

This bill directs New Jersey's Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to create security risk assessment guidance for public and private colleges and universities that receive state funding. The guidance will help institutions evaluate hazards related to campus safety, data security, emergency planning, infrastructure, and mental health access, while also providing a standardized checklist for annual reviews. Institutions must submit completed checklists to the office each year, and these documents will remain confidential but may inform decisions about state grants for safety upgrades. The office will also offer technical assistance to ensure consistent completion of assessments across all affected schools.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Safety Testing & Assessment Mental Health Consumer Data Protection

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

A 4544: Establishes requirements for students engaging in certain bias-related conduct.

This bill requires New Jersey school districts to mandate that students identified as engaging in bias-related conduct meet with a certified school psychologist weekly for at least nine months. The law defines bias acts as any behavior motivated by protected characteristics such as race, gender, or sexual orientation that creates a hostile environment, and includes actions like displaying hate symbols or using discriminatory language. Districts must employ psychologists trained in implicit bias and racial equity to provide restorative interventions aimed at understanding underlying causes and preventing future incidents. The legislation emphasizes support and education over purely punitive measures, requiring staff training and transparent reporting to address rising bias incidents in schools.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Safety

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

A 4573: Codifies regulations concerning State-excused absences; permits excused absence for students attending military service activities, certain school visits, and open-houses.

This bill updates New Jersey public school attendance rules by formally recognizing several types of excused absences, including military service activities, college or vocational school visits, and labor-related open houses. Under the new provisions, students in grades 11 and 12 may take up to three excused absences per school year for these activities without those days counting against their attendance records. The legislation also clarifies that excused absences should not appear on transcripts or employment forms and requires students to provide documentation when requested by school officials. This change applies to students participating in military testing, evaluations, or enlistment activities, as well as those visiting educational institutions or attending job-related events.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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

A 4727: Establishes Social-Emotional Learning Program in DOE; appropriates $2 million.

This bill creates a Social-Emotional Learning Program within New Jersey's Department of Education to support public school students in grades kindergarten through five. The program will teach students skills to process and apply social and emotional abilities while fostering safe learning environments through peer and family activities. It will initially launch in two cohorts of 103 schools across northern, central, and southern regions, with the Clayton School District serving as a model site. The state will fund 50% of program costs in the first year, decreasing to 35% and then 25% in subsequent years, with an initial $2 million appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Appropriations K-12 Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SR 78: Urges Governor and Legislature to establish initiatives towards education of social workers.

This Senate Resolution urges the Governor and Legislature of New Jersey to create initiatives that support the education of social work students. The bill specifically calls for the development of scholarships and loan repayment programs to help students pursuing bachelor's and graduate degrees in social work. By addressing high student debt and low salaries in the field, the resolution aims to encourage more individuals to enter social work careers and maintain a qualified workforce. The measure does not mandate funding but instead requests legislative action to establish financial support mechanisms for social work education.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

All education bills