Education (K-12 Education) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2593: Directs Commissioner of Education to develop sensitivity training program for high school athletic directors, coaches, and sports officials of interscholastic athletic sports programs.

New Jersey's Bill A-2593 requires the Commissioner of Education to create a sensitivity training program for high school athletic directors, coaches, and sports officials. The training covers topics like gender/sexual orientation, race, disabilities, religious tolerance, unconscious bias, and diversity. Coaches, athletic directors, and sports officials must complete the training every four years (with new hires doing it in their first year), and officials must certify completion when applying for certification. This bill, currently introduced but not yet enacted, directly affects all public and nonpublic high school sports staff in the state.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1716: Eliminates high school graduation proficiency test.

This bill eliminates the statewide high school graduation proficiency test requirement for all New Jersey students. It directly affects every high school student in the state by removing a mandated test as a condition for earning a diploma. The key mechanism deletes references to the "Statewide proficiency test" from existing graduation statutes (including sections of P.L.1979, c.241), shifting responsibility to local school districts to set their own graduation standards. This change means students will no longer need to pass a state-administered test to graduate, though local districts must still establish and monitor proficiency requirements.

Topics ✗ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 570: Eliminates eligibility of certain students including undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria to receive State student financial aid or to qualify for in-State tuition at public institutions of higher education.

This bill repeals New Jersey laws that allowed certain undocumented students meeting specific criteria to qualify for in-state tuition and state financial aid at public colleges. It eliminates the requirement that students must have attended a New Jersey high school for three or more years, graduated from a New Jersey high school (or equivalent), and enrolled as an entering student or currently enrolled as of a specified date. The bill also removes the requirement for undocumented students to file an affidavit about applying for legal immigration status. This change directly affects undocumented students who previously met these criteria but no longer qualifies them for these benefits. Provisions for students with T/U visas or dependents of H-1B/O-1/O-2 visa holders remain unchanged.

Topics ✗ Education ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 586: Establishes "New Jersey College Ready Students Program Act"; provides tuition-free dual enrollment opportunities at county college for certain high school students.

This bill establishes New Jersey's "College Ready Students Program," providing tuition-free dual enrollment courses at county colleges for eligible public high school students in grades 11 and 12. To qualify, students must meet financial need criteria similar to the state's Educational Opportunity Fund and maintain a college readiness GPA, with a limit of 3 tuition-free credits per semester (6 annually). The state covers all tuition costs, and students must earn a C or higher in courses to continue in the program. The Commissioner of Education must annually report participation rates, course completions, and outcomes to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 855: Requires public high school students to receive financial literacy instruction on higher education costs, student financial assistance, and cryptocurrencies.

This New Jersey bill (A 855) requires all public high school students to receive mandatory financial literacy instruction covering four key areas: applying for financial aid, understanding higher education costs and funding options (loans, grants), student loan rights and payment choices, and cryptocurrency risks including "get rich quick" scams. It directly affects every public high school student in New Jersey by adding these topics to existing financial literacy curriculum requirements. The bill mandates school boards to integrate these specific lessons into secondary education programs, effective immediately for the next full school year after enactment. The policy aims to provide practical, real-world financial education without endorsing any specific financial products or services.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3312: Mandates biennial LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for certain educators, healthcare professionals, and State employees.

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.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Mental Health

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 12, 2026

A 4051: Establishes "STEM Curriculum Grant Program" for certain school districts; makes appropriation.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Appropriations Curriculum K-12 Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1346: Establishes program to provide guaranteed admission to public institutions of higher education for certain public school students.

This bill establishes a guaranteed admission program for New Jersey public high school seniors to public colleges. It requires the state's Higher Education Secretary to automatically offer conditional admission to eligible students who meet academic merit standards, including GPA, coursework difficulty (like AP/IB courses), test scores, and state assessments. To qualify, students must be New Jersey residents for at least one year and apply as first-time full-time degree seekers. The program mandates annual reporting on participation demographics and impact, specifically tracking enrollment among low-income students and underserved populations.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2715: "Radical Regimes Education Act"; requires age-appropriate instruction on certain governmental regimes in grades nine through 12.

This bill requires New Jersey public schools to teach students in grades 9-12 about historical atrocities committed by the governments of the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.), China (PRC), and Nazi Germany. Specifically, it mandates age-appropriate instruction covering the history of these regimes, their human rights abuses and genocides, and the use of systems like gulags and concentration camps. School districts must align this teaching with State Board of Education standards and will receive sample instructional materials from the Commissioner of Education. The law applies to all New Jersey public school districts implementing social studies standards for high school students, beginning with the first full school year after enactment.

Topics ✗ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 716: Requires fire suppression systems in all elementary and secondary schools 12,000 square feet or larger.

This bill requires all elementary and secondary schools in New Jersey that are 12,000 square feet or larger to install automatic fire suppression systems. It directly affects schools meeting this size threshold, which includes many larger public and private K-12 campuses. The bill mandates the Commissioner of Education (with input from Community Affairs) to create implementation rules, including prioritization for installations, and authorizes state funds - including bond proceeds from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority - to cover compliance costs. The law takes effect immediately, extending existing fire safety requirements (previously only for new schools) to all qualifying existing buildings.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

All education bills