Education

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 130: Establishes Special Education Transportation Task Force.

This bill establishes a 18-member Special Education Transportation Task Force to study and recommend best practices for transporting students with special education needs. The task force will focus on improving responses to medical and behavioral emergencies during transportation, safety protocols, access to necessary equipment, and communication with families. Composed of education officials, disability advocates, school staff, and parents, the group must submit its recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 12 months of forming. The bill does not create new laws but sets a process for evaluating and improving existing transportation practices.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes task force to improve special education transportation safety and access, directly enhancing educational access for students with disabilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation Special Education

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1380: Clarifies that law concerning requirements for closure of private career school applies to certain schools licensed by New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling.

This bill clarifies that New Jersey's private career school closure requirements - including the need for a plan to transfer students and provide transcripts - apply to cosmetology and hairstyling schools licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling. It requires the Board to develop a standard model teach-out plan for these schools to use when submitting closure plans to the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. The model ensures students can transfer to another school and receive their academic records if a school closes abruptly, addressing gaps seen in past closures like Capri Institute. This change extends existing protections for students at other private career schools to cosmetology and hairstyling programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures student transfer/transcripts during closure of cosmetology schools, protecting educational access per closure requirements.85% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 808: Provides a STEM graduate retention tax credit for certain employers who pay certain employees' education loan debt.

This bill creates a tax credit for New Jersey employers who pay up to $5,000 annually toward the student loans of qualifying STEM graduates. It directly affects employers in the state who hire full-time employees with STEM degrees from New Jersey public colleges, who live and work in New Jersey, and have outstanding, non-defaulted student loans. Employers can claim this credit against corporation business tax or gross income tax, with eligibility certified by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. The credit applies to loans paid on or after the date the bill takes effect (January 1 following enactment).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a tax credit (reducing employer tax liability) for STEM hiring, directly providing tax relief per Budget & Taxes indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides tax credit to NJ employers for paying STEM graduates' student loans, directly supporting higher education retention and reducing debt burden for graduates from NJ public colleges.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 807: Establishes pilot program in DOE to provide assistive technology to elementary and middle school students with dyslexia and related conditions.

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey public schools to provide assistive technology (like text-to-speech software and digital tools) to elementary and middle school students with dyslexia or related reading/writing challenges. It directly affects students identified with dyslexia who do not require formal special education classification, helping them access grade-level materials and complete assignments more effectively. The program will provide grants to seven selected school districts (chosen across urban, suburban, rural areas and different county sizes) to cover the cost of technology, related services, and teacher training. Districts must apply with student data and plans showing how the tools will improve academic outcomes, with the Commissioner of Education overseeing implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes pilot program providing assistive technology grants to K-12 students with dyslexia, directly enhancing educational access and support for learning challenges without formal special education classification.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds assistive technology (text-to-speech, digital tools) for dyslexic students, directly advancing educational technology access and digital equity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education Teachers

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 3347: Establishes "gun-free" and "weapon free" zones around certain school and public properties.

This bill establishes "gun-free" and "weapon-free" zones around schools by prohibiting the possession of firearms within 1,000 feet of school buildings, grounds, or school buses without written permission from the school. It also bans certain weapons, such as those that can be assembled into firearms, in these zones without authorization. Possessing firearms in these areas is classified as a third-degree crime, while possessing the banned weapons is a fourth-degree crime. Local governments can use approved maps to define the zone boundaries for enforcement purposes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates gun-free zones around schools to enhance safety, directly supporting student/staff protection in educational environments.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 28, 2026

S 3426: Requires public schools to post link to subsidized school meals application, and certain informational videos related to application, in prominent place on Internet website.*

This bill requires all New Jersey public schools to prominently display a link to the free or reduced-price school meals application on their official websites. It directly affects public schools, which must place the link in a visible location (like the homepage) rather than burying it in less accessible sections. The provision aims to make it easier for parents and guardians to access the application needed to determine eligibility for federal and state school meal programs each school year. The requirement takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires visible meal application links to improve access to school nutrition programs, directly enhancing student educational access and participation in federally supported meal initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 438: Allows students to use portion of opportunity grant awards under Educational Opportunity Fund program during summer session.

This bill allows students receiving Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) grants to use a portion of their award for summer courses that count toward graduation or their major. Students must notify the Higher Education Secretary before the academic year starts, which reduces their regular academic year disbursement by a specific amount. The Secretary must annually report how many students used the summer option and their graduation rates within standard timeframes. It directly affects EOF grant recipients at participating New Jersey institutions, implementing a 2016 commission recommendation to improve college affordability.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by allowing EOF grant funds for summer courses to accelerate graduation, directly supporting student success within existing funding framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1919: Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs.

This bill establishes the New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs statewide. The 22-member commission - including state agency heads, legislative appointees, and representatives from child care organizations, schools, and advocacy groups - will assess current programs, develop statewide standards, examine funding sources, and evaluate program quality across urban, suburban, and rural districts. It must issue an interim report within one year and a final report within two years of forming, including recommendations for improving accountability and quality. The commission expires 30 days after submitting its final report, with no immediate funding or program changes enacted by this bill.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes commission to review and improve after-school programs, develop standards, and examine funding, enhancing student program access and quality.90% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1929: Provides that State pay high school equivalency exam fees for low-income individuals.

This bill (A 1929) requires New Jersey to create a program paying high school equivalency exam fees for low-income adults. It directly affects individuals with household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines, who seek a state-issued high school diploma. The State Board of Education must establish the program within six months, including income verification documentation, and limit fee coverage to one exam per person. The program will be funded using 5% of revenues from the existing Workforce Development Partnership Fund, as amended in Section 9 of P.L.1992, c.43.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds (5% of revenues) to cover exam fees for low-income individuals, supporting public education funding under state budget provisions.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state-funded exam fees for low-income adults seeking high school diplomas, expanding educational access and removing financial barriers to credential attainment.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides fee assistance for high school equivalency exams, enabling low-income adults to obtain credentials for better employment opportunities, advancing employment standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Workforce Development

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 24, 2026

A 4484: Establishes Statewide Skills Academy Network; appropriates $1 million.

This bill establishes the Statewide Skills Academy Network to improve coordination among New Jersey's county colleges, vocational schools, and union training providers. It appropriates $1 million to fund regional skills academies that develop short-term, high-demand training programs, with priority for evening and weekend classes. The network will identify workforce skills gaps, share best practices, and support the creation of accessible training sites for facilities, curriculum, equipment, and staffing. This directly affects community colleges, vocational institutions, and union training programs across the state, aiming to better align training with employer needs and improve job placement outcomes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $1M for skills academies to develop training programs, expand access via evening/weekend classes, and improve coordination among educational institutions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce training programs to address skills gaps and improve job access, directly supporting labor market participation and employment opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum Apprenticeships Collective Bargaining Workforce Development

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