Education (Special Education) in New Jersey

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

A 2440: Directs State Board of Education to require that when individualized education program (IEP) team is developing IEP for student prone to regression, it must consider consistency of staffing.

This bill requires New Jersey's State Board of Education to mandate that school districts consider staffing consistency when developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students prone to regression, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder. It directly affects IEP teams, school districts, and parents/guardians by requiring them to evaluate stable staff assignments as a key factor in determining in-district special education placements. The law amends existing regulations to ensure IEP teams prioritize consistent staffing - alongside location and curriculum - to prevent regression caused by frequent changes in service providers. This policy change aims to create more stable learning environments for vulnerable students through concrete procedural requirements.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum Special Education

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

A 500: Requires board of education to award certain transportation contracts to most appropriate bidder; requires board of education to hold transportation meeting prior to awarding certain transportation contracts for students with disabilities.

This bill requires New Jersey school boards to award transportation contracts for students with disabilities (specifically those with "special transportation requirements" under state law) to the most appropriate provider - not necessarily the lowest bidder. It mandates a pre-contract meeting involving parents, the transportation bidder, the student's case manager, and school representatives to discuss the student's individualized education program (IEP) needs. The board must consider the meeting's outcome when selecting a provider and cannot award a contract to a bidder unable to meet the student's specific transportation needs. This changes current practice, which typically requires awarding contracts to the lowest responsible bidder.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Transportation Special Education

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

A 746: Requires certain school districts to receive additional State aid for certain State school aid reductions from previous school years; authorizes appropriation.

This bill requires New Jersey to provide additional state aid to school districts that experienced State school aid reductions exceeding 3% of their prior year's funding during the 2020-2021 through 2024-2025 school years. It calculates the extra aid as the total amount of reductions above that 3% threshold, using specific funding categories like equalization aid, transportation support, special education funding, security grants, and adjustment aid. The Department of Education must fund this through an appropriation from the Property Tax Relief Fund. The policy directly compensates affected school districts for past aid cuts without requiring new legislative action for each district.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Appropriations Property Tax School Funding Special Education

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

A 3268: Revises conditions for use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement.

This bill (NJ A3268) allows New Jersey public school districts to count virtual or remote instruction days toward their required 180-day school year when schools close due to weather, emergencies, or health directives. It requires districts to submit approved virtual programs to the education commissioner, ensures equal educational access for students with disabilities (including IEP services via technology), and specifies that virtual days count as full school days for graduation, course credit, and state assessments. The commissioner must establish guidance on technology access, day length, and impacts on lunch programs and state testing. It directly affects all public school districts, charter schools, and students, including those with disabilities.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Special Education

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

A 2899: Provides supplemental appropriation to ensure certain school districts receive additional amounts of special education categorical aid, security categorical aid, and transportation aid.

This bill provides supplemental state funding to specific New Jersey school districts that received reduced special education, security, and transportation aid under recent funding formulas. It directly affects districts that experienced aid cuts in both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years while spending below state adequacy standards. The key mechanism requires the state to cover the difference between current aid amounts and the higher levels calculated under the 2008 School Funding Reform Act for eligible districts. This temporary measure aims to prevent budget shortfalls for these districts during the 2024-2025 school year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Appropriations School Funding Special Education

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

A 2284: Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force.

This bill updates New Jersey's school funding formulas and creates a Special Education Funding Review Task Force. It requires the education commissioner to notify school districts annually about funding amounts, including per-pupil costs, special education aid, and geographic adjustments, based on the state's Educational Adequacy Report. The bill clarifies how districts calculate their required local tax levies and adjusts special education funding when actual aid differs from initial projections. It directly affects all New Jersey public school districts by changing how state aid is calculated and distributed. The Special Education Funding Review Task Force will be established to examine funding mechanisms for students with disabilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education

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

A 499: Requires consideration of student transportation needs in individualized education program and inclusion of certain transportation personnel on individualized education program team.

This bill requires school districts to include transportation considerations in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities who receive transportation services. Specifically, IEP teams must address students' medical, behavioral, and equipment needs during transportation planning, and must include the school district's director of transportation at all IEP meetings (unless parents consent otherwise or no transportation is needed). It also mandates that IEP teams, with parent input, complete a "student information card" detailing transportation needs, which must be kept with the IEP and accessible on the school bus to all drivers and aides. This directly affects students with disabilities receiving transportation, their families, school districts, and bus personnel.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Transportation Special Education

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

A 1500: Directs DOE to create New Jersey Education Funding Portal to make available to school districts and public State school aid information.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education to create a public online portal displaying how state school funding is calculated for all school districts. The portal will show historical aid amounts, allow users to adjust variables like enrollment or property values to estimate impacts, and explain complex funding formulas in plain language. It will cover all state aid types - including special education, transportation, and categorical programs - and include district-specific data like local shares and enrollment. The portal must link to relevant laws, district budgets, and the annual Educational Adequacy Report. This transparency tool directly affects school districts and the public by making funding mechanisms accessible and understandable.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education

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

A 2535: Requires upcoming Educational Adequacy Report to include comprehensive review of certain components of school funding in consultation with certain stakeholders and experts.

This bill (A2535) requires New Jersey's next Educational Adequacy Report (due September 1, 2025) to include two new consultation steps. It mandates the Governor and Commissioner of Education to: (1) engage diverse stakeholders (school staff, students, parents, community members) to identify unfunded school resources, and (2) commission school finance experts to recommend updates to funding methodology. These changes will directly affect how state school funding is calculated for all districts, including base per-pupil amounts, special education costs, preschool funding, and transportation aid. The bill does not change current funding formulas but requires the next report to incorporate stakeholder input and expert analysis before updates are finalized. The bill is pending before the Assembly Education Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Early Childhood School Funding Special Education

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

A 1811: Establishes emergency teacher certificate in certain circumstances.

New Jersey bill A1811 creates an emergency teacher certification for high-need fields like special education and bilingual education when school districts cannot find certified candidates. It allows chief school administrators to apply for this temporary certification, requiring candidates to be enrolled in an educator program, hold a bachelor’s degree, and pass subject exams. The certification can be renewed annually up to two times (maxing three years total), and school districts may employ no more than 10% of their teaching staff under this emergency certificate. The Department of Education must publish the list of eligible high-need fields online, with annual reevaluation by the State Board of Education.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

All education bills