This bill changes how New Jersey school districts calculate their local share for state school funding. It requires using a five-year average of each district's equalized property valuation (instead of just the previous year's value) in the formula that determines state aid. This directly affects all public school districts and county vocational school districts when calculating their state funding. The change takes effect for the 2024-2025 school year, making the funding calculation more stable by smoothing out annual property value fluctuations.
New Jersey bill A-230 requires the Department of Education to create model policies for schools to notify parents when instructional materials contain sexually explicit content (defined as depictions of sexual conduct, nudity, or specific acts). School boards must adopt policies based on these models, including: (1) notifying parents before student exposure, (2) clearly identifying specific materials and topics, and (3) allowing parents to review content or request alternative materials. The bill applies to all public elementary and secondary schools and explicitly states it does not permit book censorship. It takes effect for the first full school year after enactment.
This New Jersey bill would create a tax credit for parents or guardians homeschooling children or dependents, allowing them to deduct up to $2,500 per child in qualified education expenses from their state income tax, with a maximum annual credit of $7,500. Taxpayers homeschooling a child with special needs would receive an additional $1,000 per child, raising the maximum annual credit to $10,500. Qualified expenses include textbooks, educational software, school supplies, internet fees, and materials like computers or desks used for homeschooling. The credit applies to taxpayers with gross income under $260,000 and requires filing an application if no tax is owed.
This bill establishes a three-year pilot program in specific New Jersey counties (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, and Union) and first-class cities to train school staff, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and students to identify and report behaviors signaling potential school violence. Key provisions include developing a threat assessment tool, creating a training curriculum on recognizing risk indicators, and building a system for immediate threat reporting and response. The program requires the Attorney General to collaborate with health and education officials and submit annual reports evaluating the pilot's effectiveness, with recommendations for potential statewide expansion. Funding for implementation will be provided through a general fund appropriation.
This bill provides New Jersey taxpayers with a refundable tax credit of up to $500 per year for costs paid to high-impact tutors. It directly affects individual taxpayers who use tutoring services proven to significantly improve student learning through research, as defined in the bill. The credit applies to the tax year the tutoring is received, and if it reduces a taxpayer’s total tax liability to zero, the remaining credit amount is paid as a cash refund. The credit is limited to one claim per married couple filing separately.
This New Jersey bill (A 1605) prohibits public school boards from teaching family life education, sex education, sexual health, sexual orientation, or gender identity to students in preschool through fourth grade. It directly affects school districts and educators in New Jersey who must stop providing these specific topics in early grades. The bill requires the State Board of Education to revise the statewide health education standards within 30 days to align with this prohibition. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill prevents New Jersey public colleges from raising tuition for in-state undergraduate students during their first four years of enrollment. It applies to all resident students who start at a public institution, freezing their tuition rate for four consecutive academic years (or longer if their program requires it). The policy takes effect immediately for students enrolling in the academic year after the bill's passage. It directly affects public higher education institutions and in-state undergraduates by guaranteeing stable tuition costs during their initial enrollment period.
This bill requires biennial LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for three specific groups: K-12 educators, licensed healthcare professionals, and all State employees (including part-time, full-time, and contract workers). The training covers LGBTQ+ identities and terminology, creating inclusive environments, responding to bias, and supporting mental health. Educators must complete a module provided by the Commissioner of Education, healthcare professionals must complete training under Title 45 licensing rules, and State employees must complete a program administered by the State Ethics Commission. The mandate applies to all covered individuals regardless of their specific role, with training required every two years.
This bill (A-1189) requires New Jersey to provide additional state school funding to reduce property tax burdens for residents. It directly affects school districts that experienced state aid reductions between 2018-2019 and 2022-2023, directing the state to pay them retroactive aid equal to their past funding losses. Key mechanisms include calculating base aid amounts based on historical funding formulas, mandating districts receiving increased state aid to lower property tax levies by the same amount, and requiring annual property tax reductions if state aid rises. The bill appropriates $2.9 billion to implement these changes, aiming to ensure school funding aligns with residents' ability to pay property taxes.
This bill establishes a $2.25 million grant program through New Jersey's Department of Education to support STEM education for low-income students in grades 6-8. It requires selected school districts (with existing STEM programs meeting specific criteria) to provide hands-on project-based learning, offer accelerated options for students behind grade level (allowing them to complete two years of material in one year), and include staff training and classroom resources. The program targets at-risk pupils defined as those from households earning at or below 1.85 times the federal poverty level. Funds will be administered by the Department of Education in partnership with the nonprofit Engaged Learning Strategies to expand existing STEM initiatives, not create new ones.
