This bill requires New Jersey school districts to provide bus transportation to public and nonpublic school students living within the standard distance limits (2 miles for elementary, 2.5 miles for secondary) but along routes designated as "hazardous" by the state. It establishes a process where the state transportation official, with input from police and education leaders, defines and designates hazardous routes based on specific safety criteria like traffic volume, road conditions, and pedestrian infrastructure. School districts must then provide transportation for students on these designated routes, and the state will annually review route designations to ensure they remain accurate. The policy directly affects students living near unsafe walking paths and school districts responsible for providing this transportation.
This bill creates the Office of School Climate within New Jersey's Department of Education, led by a School Climate State Coordinator. It requires the Coordinator to develop and maintain a central online resource hub for parents and guardians, including a multilingual tutorial on identifying, preventing, and reporting harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools. The tutorial must be available in languages commonly spoken by students' families. The bill also mandates legislative funding to support this office and its operations.
This bill (A 1613) allows New Jersey school districts to use existing "security categorical aid" funding to hire school security personnel for students attending nonpublic schools within the district. It amends current law to explicitly include hiring security staff as an allowable use of this specific funding, which districts already receive under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008. The change clarifies that security services provided to nonpublic school students - including security personnel - align with the Secure Schools for All Children Act requirements. The bill does not create new funding but specifies how current resources can be applied.
This bill requires school buses transporting students with special needs to install three safety features: interior video cameras to monitor student safety, real-time GPS tracking for location and speed, and two-way communication equipment. It specifies that video footage and GPS data collected under this law are not considered government records, and the State Board of Education must create rules for equipment installation, data use, and video retention periods. The law directly affects school bus operators and students with special needs, aiming to enhance safety and communication during transportation. It also mandates that drivers follow existing laws prohibiting phone use while driving. The bill takes effect six months after enactment, with administrative actions allowed in advance for implementation.
This bill requires every public school in New Jersey to employ at least two full-time staff members with expertise in student mental health - specifically licensed school counselors or school psychologists - starting in the first full school year after enactment. For schools with over 500 students, districts must add additional staff in proportion to enrollment. The law applies directly to all local school boards and affects every public school building statewide. It mandates concrete staffing levels without specifying funding mechanisms or outcomes.
This bill (S 1005) requires New Jersey public school principals to make a preliminary determination about alleged bullying incidents before launching a full investigation and to hold separate meetings with parents of all involved students within seven days of notification. It directly affects school principals, parents/guardians, and students involved in bullying reports. Key provisions include extending the investigation timeline from 10 to 30 school days and mandating written reporting of incidents within two school days. The bill amends existing anti-bullying policy requirements to add these specific procedural steps for handling reports.
This New Jersey bill (S 2598) requires public school districts, charter schools, and special education programs to establish clear policies for removing students from school pending a mental health assessment. It mandates that such removals only occur in emergencies where a student poses immediate danger to themselves or others, with written documentation, parent notification within 48 hours, and free mental health assessments for families. Schools must also update individualized education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans after a student returns, and cannot charge families for the assessment unless they choose a clinician outside the school’s approved list. The bill applies to all public and specialized school settings in New Jersey and aims to standardize emergency removal procedures while protecting student rights.
S 2452, the "Safer Students Act," requires school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, contracted service providers, and colleges to review employment histories of prospective employees for allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct. Specifically, it mandates that applicants provide a list of employers from the past 20 years (including those involving child contact) and authorize background checks, while schools must verify these histories using the Department of Human Services database and contact prior employers directly. The law also requires employers to report new hires to the state within 20 days (or 15 days electronically) for inclusion in the verification system. This bill is pending in the Senate Education Committee as of its January 13, 2026, introduction.
This bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to submit their current school safety and security plans to the Commissioner of Education within six months of the bill taking effect. The Commissioner must review each plan against specific criteria, including emergency notification lists, staff emergency roles, building access policies, bullying prevention efforts, hazard analysis, active shooter protocols, and crisis communication plans. After review, the Commissioner will provide each district with a written report detailing weaknesses and recommended solutions. Within three years, the Commissioner must also submit a statewide summary report to the Governor and Legislature, aggregating findings without disclosing individual district details. The bill does not change existing requirements but mandates a standardized state-level review process for school safety plans.
This bill requires all New Jersey school districts serving grades 4-12 to hold an annual, multi-day bullying prevention program lasting three to five days. The program must provide age-appropriate sessions for students covering topics like cyberbullying prevention, bystander intervention, empathy, and conflict resolution, with all students required to attend sessions matching their grade level. Districts must also provide staff training on bullying prevention as part of this program, and may use the new "Bullying Prevention Fund" (created by this bill) to secure grants for implementation if resources are lacking. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner of Education withholding state aid from the district.
