This bill establishes a $2 million grant program for New Jersey public schools to promote limited student use of cell phones and social media during school hours and school events. Schools applying for grants must submit plans to reduce device distractions, while the Department of Education will develop best practices covering age-appropriate policies, emergency exceptions, and device storage options. Participating schools must annually report on how the program affects academic performance, behavior, and student well-being, with the Department compiling statewide results. The program targets all public schools in New Jersey, with grants awarded competitively based on regional diversity and need.
This bill requires New Jersey counties and municipalities to build and maintain sidewalks within a two-mile radius of elementary public schools and a 2.5-mile radius of secondary public schools, specifically on streets used by students that are deemed hazardous under existing safety criteria. It allows local governments to fund these sidewalks using permit fees, donations, grants, or other available funds. The law applies to all public schools (including those partially funded by state/local sources) and takes effect immediately. It directly affects school districts, local infrastructure planning, and students walking to school along designated routes.
This bill requires New Jersey public school districts to allow certain non-enrolled students - such as those receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere (e.g., homeschooling), attending charter schools, or enrolled in county vocational schools - to try out for and participate in interscholastic sports in their district of residence, provided they meet the same eligibility requirements as enrolled students. To qualify, students must prove residency, pass physical and academic checks (like grades and health screenings), and for non-public school students, demonstrate they receive an academically equivalent education. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) will resolve eligibility disputes, and students previously ineligible at their prior school remain ineligible if barred for academic or behavioral reasons. This applies only when the student’s current school does not sponsor the desired sport.
This bill forgives up to $10 million in outstanding state loans or advances owed by eligible public school districts. It applies to districts that borrowed funds since 2018 to supplement general budgets, including loans under P.L.2018, c.67, or advances under P.L.2006, c.15. The Commissioner of Education and State Treasurer will forgive the debt for qualifying districts, including those with approved applications before the bill's enactment. It directly affects school districts facing budget shortfalls due to state aid reductions, providing immediate financial relief without requiring new spending. The forgiveness covers the principal amount but not interest or fees associated with the borrowed funds.
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.
This New Jersey bill requires the Department of Education to study student caregivers in high schools. The study will examine challenges faced by students caring for family members at home, absenteeism rates among these students, and how caregiving impacts graduation rates and college enrollment. Within one year, the Education Commissioner must submit a report with findings and any recommendations for potential support programs. The bill directly affects high school students in public and nonpublic schools who serve as primary caregivers.
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.
This bill establishes the New Jersey School Counts County College Scholarship Program, providing up to $4,000 in tuition, book, and fee assistance to eligible high school graduates attending county colleges. To qualify, students must earn a School Counts certificate by maintaining 95% attendance, achieving a C average or higher, completing Algebra I, and meeting graduation requirements during high school. The scholarship covers costs after other financial aid is applied, requires full-time enrollment (24+ credits annually), and must be used within six months of high school graduation. County colleges can receive state matching funds if they raise private donations to support student scholarships.
This bill (A 2308) requires New Jersey health insurance carriers to cover enrollment in recovery high school alternative education programs for students with substance use disorders. It directly affects students in these programs and health insurers, mandating coverage when a certified professional (like a counselor or physician) determines it is clinically appropriate based on DSM criteria. The law specifies that this coverage must be provided under the same terms as other medical benefits, without extra copays, deductibles, or limits. It amends existing insurance laws to include this specific benefit for recovery high schools established under P.L.2015, c.254. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.
This bill creates a two-year scholarship program for undergraduate students at New Jersey public colleges who commit to community service in climate action, K-12 education, or food insecurity. Students receiving $10,000 scholarships must serve 15 hours weekly in these fields for one academic year and agree to work full-time in related careers after graduation. The bill appropriates $9 million for 900 scholarships ($10,000 each) and $1 million to fund $100,000 grants for 10 public colleges to establish community partnerships supporting these service opportunities. It requires institutions to develop programs offering academic credit, professional development, and connections to community organizations in the targeted fields.
