This bill requires New Jersey public schools to add specific, age-appropriate instruction about cannabis and marijuana risks to health and physical education curricula for grades 3-12. It mandates teaching students about cannabis' effects on adolescent brains and bodies, THC's impact, addiction risks, driving under influence dangers, differences between medicinal and recreational use, and factors influencing usage decisions. The Department of Education must develop this content in consultation with the Division of Addiction Services. The policy takes effect 60 days after enactment, directly affecting all K-12 public school students and educators in New Jersey.
This bill increases the minimum annual salary for full-time public school teachers in New Jersey from $18,500 to $60,000 (with $61,500 for teachers holding a master's degree or higher), effective for the 2022-2023 school year and all future hires. It directly affects all public school teachers in New Jersey school districts and educational services commissions who are certified as performing acceptably. The bill mandates that school districts cannot pay below these new minimums and requires the state to cover the full difference between current salaries and the new minimums for the 2022-2023 school year, phasing down to zero funding by 2027-2028. This establishes a concrete policy change in teacher compensation standards without altering existing collective bargaining agreements.
This bill would have required New Jersey public school districts to teach cursive handwriting to students in kindergarten through fifth grade, with a specific goal for students to read and write cursive legibly by the end of third grade. It mandated that school curricula include activities and materials to develop these skills, citing potential cognitive and literacy benefits. The bill was introduced in January 2026 but was withdrawn the same day after being approved as part of a prior law (P.L.2025, c.284), meaning it never became law. It directly affected all public elementary schools and their curriculum planning. The bill's provisions would have taken effect for the first full school year following enactment.
This bill creates the Grow Your Own Teacher Loan Redemption Program to help new teachers reduce student loan debt by working in school districts with teacher shortages. It targets graduates of high schools in shortage districts (or those who lived in such districts for over five years) who become certified teachers there, with eligibility requiring NJ residency, a valid teaching job, and eligible student loans. For each full year of teaching in a qualifying district, the program redeems up to $10,000 of loan principal and interest, capping total redemption at $50,000 over five years, with annual program spending limited to $500,000. Participants must sign a five-year contract to teach in the designated district and submit annual employment verification.
This bill creates a permanent "Support for Students Exposed to Domestic Violence Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Education. The fund provides financial support to public schools for three specific purposes: (1) school-based therapy and trauma-informed mental health services for students impacted by domestic violence, (2) identifying resources to address unmet needs of these students, and (3) funding staff training and employment for mental health personnel. The Department of Education will administer the fund, allocate money to schools based on its own methodology, and require schools to report how funds are used. This policy directly affects public schools and students exposed to domestic violence across New Jersey.
This resolution (AR 111) urges New Jersey public high schools to establish "Pathways to Purpose Week" during the week of May 1. It directly affects high school students and administrators by encouraging schools to recognize and celebrate multiple post-graduation options - including college enrollment, apprenticeships, and military service - alongside traditional "College Decision Day" celebrations. The key provision requires schools to honor all pathways equally, addressing that nearly 30% of seniors do not pursue immediate college enrollment and apprenticeship participation has declined since 2016. The resolution is non-binding, recommending schools adopt this observance to highlight diverse success routes after high school.
This bill extends early intervention services to children aged three through five who are already receiving these services at age three. It requires the Department of Health to allow eligible children to continue receiving early intervention services until they turn six years old or become eligible for kindergarten, whichever occurs first. The services must comply with federal early intervention rules, including parental consent requirements. This change aims to minimize service disruptions during the transition from early intervention to school-based special education. The bill directly affects young children with developmental delays and their families in New Jersey.
This bill requires New Jersey public school boards to give hiring preference to veterans for teaching positions when veterans are equally qualified as non-veteran candidates in all measurable criteria (such as experience, certifications, and qualifications). It directly affects veterans applying for teaching jobs in most school districts, ensuring they receive preference only if their qualifications match other candidates exactly. The law does not apply to approximately nine school districts that follow the Civil Service system (Title 11A), as those districts' existing rules supersede this bill for classified employees. The preference applies immediately upon enactment.
This newly introduced New Jersey bill (A 2602) revises annual reporting requirements for public colleges and universities. It expands existing reporting to require institutions to include retention rates, applicant numbers, and acceptance rates - along with all student data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, family income, and first-generation status. The bill mandates that institutions use this detailed student data to evaluate campus diversity, inform admissions policies, and improve equity initiatives and resource allocation. These changes apply to all public higher education institutions in New Jersey and would first take effect for the academic year following enactment. The bill does not change current reporting on graduation rates, SAT scores, or student financial aid programs.
This bill sets minimum staffing requirements for school library media specialists in New Jersey public schools based on student enrollment. Schools with under 300 students must employ at least a half-time specialist, those with 300-1,499 students must have one full-time specialist, and schools with 1,500+ students must have two full-time specialists. It also requires schools with 500+ students to employ library clerks (one full-time clerk plus one additional clerk per 500 students). The bill includes limited waivers for schools unable to hire certified staff, allowing up to two waivers within five years. These requirements apply starting the first full school year after enactment.
