This bill establishes a $5 million grant program to expand dual enrollment opportunities in career and technical education (CTE) for New Jersey high school students. Public colleges and universities can apply for competitive grants to offer college-level CTE courses on their campuses or in high schools, allowing students to earn college credits while still in high school. Institutions must submit detailed applications outlining their program plans, capacity, and expected student participation, with grants prioritizing programs designed to continue beyond the initial funding period. The Secretary of Higher Education must annually report to the Governor and Legislature on program participation, impact on workforce needs, and recommendations for future funding.
This bill establishes New Jersey's Elementary Home Reading Grant Program to improve reading proficiency among elementary students. It appropriates $500,000 in federal pandemic relief funds to provide grants to school districts partnering with nonprofits, requiring weekly book mailings to students' homes, multilingual parent engagement communications, and student-chosen book collections (6-9 books annually). School districts must submit competitive applications detailing how their programs meet specific criteria, including data tracking on parental engagement and reading progress. The program mandates annual data reporting to the state and requires districts to match grant funds at 100% per student.
This bill requires New Jersey public school boards to directly employ certified professionals for most instructional and support roles, such as teachers and instructional staff, rather than contracting for these services. Boards may apply for Commissioner-approved exemptions to contract for specific personnel, including substitute teachers, staff for alternative education programs, and special education services, to address program needs. The bill also permits contracting for roles like those providing financial literacy instruction, individualized learning opportunities, or dual-enrollment courses without direct employment. These provisions aim to ensure certified staff directly serve students while allowing flexibility for essential program support.
This bill allows New Jersey county colleges to apply for permission to offer bachelor's degrees in applied science fields where there is a critical shortage of qualified workers in the local area. To do this, a college must submit a detailed proposal covering program design, facilities, costs, curriculum, and enrollment plans to the New Jersey Presidents’ Council for review. The council reviews the proposal, recommends approval or denial to the Higher Education Secretary, and the college can only launch the program if it receives accreditation. County colleges are limited to offering no more than three such programs, and must report on student enrollment and completion seven years after launch to determine if the program should continue.
This bill requires school bus drivers, aides, and other personnel transporting students with disabilities to complete specialized training. The training covers behavior management, communication, adaptive equipment use, recognizing life-threatening emergencies (as defined in the bill), and safety procedures. Employers (school districts or contractors) must provide this training annually and require staff to certify completion within five business days. The bill does not mandate 911 calls or specific bus safety features, but focuses on personnel preparedness through training and certification. It is pending before the Assembly Education Committee.
This bill (A 3739) designates May of each year as "Water Safety Month" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about preventing water-related accidents and drowning. It directly affects public schools and students in grades kindergarten through five, encouraging the Department of Education (with the Department of Health) to provide resources for water safety education during this month. Key provisions include supporting school presentations, partnerships with nonprofits, and educational activities focused on age-appropriate safety practices. The bill aims to address drowning as a leading cause of death for young children, per CDC data, through proactive school-based learning.
Bill A 3870 establishes a matching grant program requiring New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to provide school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects with 50% matching funds from their eligible American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funds. It directly affects schools demonstrating increased learning loss (based on state assessment data showing more students in "did not meet expectations" categories compared to 2018-19) who use ARP funds to expand instructional time. Key provisions include funding evidence-based interventions like after-school programs, summer academies, high-dosage tutoring, staff hiring, and career pathways to address pandemic-related learning gaps. Grants are capped at $200 million total, with schools required to submit detailed applications showing data-driven needs, program effectiveness, and subgroup impacts. The program mandates annual reporting on student achievement outcomes by the Commissioner.
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.
This bill establishes a three-year pilot program to provide summer reading instruction for New Jersey students not reading at grade level by the end of second grade. It requires participating school districts to apply with data on their elementary schools and past summer program enrollment, with the Commissioner selecting two districts per region (north, central, south) to ensure urban, suburban, and rural representation. The program appropriates $1 million from the state general fund to cover implementation costs, and the Commissioner must evaluate its effectiveness and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature after three years, including recommendations for potential statewide expansion. The bill directly affects second-grade students in selected districts and the state Department of Education.
This bill (A 360) prohibits New Jersey school districts and public colleges from banning active-duty military members or veterans from speaking to students at school events, classes, assemblies, graduation ceremonies, or student groups. It requires schools to forward any correspondence from military/veterans seeking to speak to county superintendents and mandates that schools cannot adopt policies blocking such addresses. Violations risk state aid reductions for school districts (via the Commissioner of Education) or public colleges (via the State Treasurer). The law applies immediately to all public educational settings in New Jersey.
