This bill establishes a 3-year pilot program in New Jersey's public elementary schools to test the use of therapy dogs in wellness initiatives. Participating school districts must apply with details about their schools, student wellness programs, and their specific plans for incorporating therapy dogs. The Department of Education will select two districts from each of the state's three regions (southern, central, northern), ensuring representation across urban, suburban, and rural areas. The program requires the DOE to provide guidance on therapy dog activities, handler training, dog health monitoring, and insurance, and mandates a final report evaluating the program's impact on student academic performance and health outcomes by June 2029.
This bill establishes a loan redemption program for New Jersey public school teachers who teach bilingual education or English as a second language (ESL) programs. To qualify, teachers must work full-time for four consecutive years in a school where at least 10% of students are enrolled in such programs, and they must be New Jersey residents. The program, administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, will redeem up to $20,000 in eligible student loan expenses (25% of the balance per year, capped at $5,000 annually) after four years of service. Priority is given to teachers working in schools designated as "low performing" based on student assessment data.
This bill requires New Jersey public schools to teach cursive handwriting to students in grades three through five. It mandates that school districts incorporate specific curriculum activities to help students read cursive text and write legibly in cursive by the end of fifth grade. The law takes effect immediately for the first full school year after enactment, applying to all public school districts in the state. It directly affects elementary school students and educators responsible for implementing the curriculum.
This bill (A2876) allows New Jersey school districts participating in the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program to temporarily increase student enrollment if they lose state school aid due to a specific 2018 law (P.L.2018, c.67). Districts can raise enrollment only up to the exact number of students needed to generate enough school choice aid to fully offset the lost state aid. The increase must not exceed this threshold, and districts receive additional school choice aid for each new student enrolled under this provision. The bill directly affects participating school districts facing aid reductions from the 2018 law, ensuring their funding remains stable through enrollment adjustments.
This bill requires school districts or contracted transportation providers in New Jersey to maintain at least one school bus aide for every 15 special needs students on any bus transporting such students, including mixed buses with general education students. It defines "special needs" as students eligible for special education services under federal law, excluding those classified solely for "specific learning disability." The requirement applies immediately upon enactment and takes effect for the first full school year after the bill becomes law. The bill directly affects school transportation providers and ensures consistent aide staffing for students requiring specialized support during bus transit.
This bill limits long-term property tax exemptions for development projects in New Jersey municipalities with school districts receiving state school aid (SDA districts). It requires developers to pay annual service charges instead of tax exemptions for school purposes, calculated as 10-15% of project revenue or 2% of project cost. These charges apply to urban renewal projects, including low/moderate-income housing, in municipalities with SDA school districts. The policy change replaces tax breaks with direct payments to municipalities for the duration of the development project (up to 35 years).
This bill requires New Jersey's State Police to operate a 24-hour toll-free hotline (by phone or text) for anonymous reports about school safety threats. It directly affects all public and nonpublic schools in New Jersey, allowing students, parents, staff, and the public to report incidents like violence, bullying, suicide threats, or criminal activity without revealing their identity. The hotline must protect reporters' anonymity unless they voluntarily share their identity to allow law enforcement and school officials to follow up. The State Police must share reported information with local police and school administrators for prompt investigation and distribute hotline details to all schools for student and family awareness.
This bill removes the requirement that student representatives on public university boards of trustees must be U.S. citizens. It directly affects international students enrolled full-time at New Jersey public colleges and universities who previously would have been ineligible due to citizenship status. The key change amends three statutes (P.L.1986 c.139, P.L.2012 c.45, and P.L.2017 c.178) by deleting the phrase "and citizens of the United States" from eligibility criteria. Student representatives must still be full-time, in good academic standing, and 18+ years old. The bill maintains existing terms (two years, with first year as alternate) and participation rules for student board members.
This bill requires New Jersey school districts serving kindergarten through sixth grade to create and include a fitness and nutrition wellness program within their Comprehensive Health and Physical Education curriculum. The program must teach students about healthy food groups, the benefits of balanced diets and exercise for physical/mental health, and include workshops for parents/guardians. It directly affects K-6 public school districts across the state. The law takes effect immediately, with implementation required in the first full school year after enactment.
This bill shifts the cost of state-appointed school district monitors from local school districts to the State of New Jersey. When a district faces fiscal issues like audit failures, deficits, or repeated financial problems, the Commissioner of Education can appoint a State monitor to oversee finances, staffing, and operations. The bill requires the State to cover all costs - including the monitor's salary and related staff expenses - instead of forcing financially strained districts to pay these costs themselves. This change directly affects school districts in fiscal distress, preventing them from using limited funds to cover oversight costs while addressing budget crises.
