Education in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 347: Requires Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery-Armed Forces Qualifying Test to be offered as alternative assessment for high school graduation proficiency test requirement.

This bill (S 347) requires New Jersey's State Board of Education to reinstate the ASVAB-AFQT (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery-Armed Forces Qualifying Test) as an approved alternative test for high school graduation. It directly affects public high school students who need to meet graduation proficiency requirements, allowing them to use the ASVAB-AFQT instead of the standard state test. The key provision adds the ASVAB-AFQT back to the list of "substitute competency tests" that students can use to demonstrate mastery of state learning standards. This change reverses a 2023 decision by the State Board that removed the ASVAB-AFQT from approved alternatives. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2758: Provides supplemental transportation aid to certain districts participating in interdistrict public school choice program.

This bill (S 2758) requires certain choice districts in New Jersey (specifically those in second-class cities under court-ordered desegregation efforts) to provide transportation for public school choice students living more than 2 miles from elementary schools or 2.5 miles from secondary schools. It mandates that sending districts (the districts students come from) receive state transportation aid for these students, which they must then pay directly to the choice district. If the choice district’s actual transportation costs exceed the state aid received, it may qualify for supplemental state reimbursement - provided it uses cost-efficient routes (like centralized pickups) and reports annual cost differences to the Department of Education. The bill aims to cover transportation expenses for students in interdistrict school choice programs without shifting costs to participating districts.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics School Choice School Transportation

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2615: Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for enrollment of student in recovery high school alternative education program.

This bill requires health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover enrollment in recovery high school alternative education programs as part of mental health/substance use disorder treatment. It applies when a certified counselor, physician, or school official determines placement is clinically appropriate using standard medical criteria. Insurance must cover these programs under the same terms as other medical benefits, without stricter limits than those applied to general medical care. The law amends existing insurance coverage requirements to include this specific educational option for students with substance use disorders. It directly affects students seeking recovery-focused education and health insurers providing coverage in New Jersey.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jun 30, 2026

S 229: Requires institutions of higher education to collect and report employment data for certain graduates.

New Jersey's S 229 requires colleges and universities to collect and publicly report detailed employment outcomes and earnings data for recent graduates, along with other key metrics like graduation rates, costs, and financial aid. Institutions must post annual, disaggregated data (by race, gender, income, and other factors) on their websites, including employment rates, average student debt, and cost projections for different student scenarios. This transparency aims to help prospective students and families compare institutions based on concrete outcomes rather than general information. The law applies to all higher education institutions in New Jersey, with reports due annually and linked directly from application pages. The Secretary of Higher Education will also compile comparative profiles to help students easily evaluate institutions.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 584: Establishes three-year pilot program in DOE to provide certain students with information and assistance regarding federal financial aid application.

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey to help 12th-grade students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Participating school districts must provide students with instruction on FAFSA requirements, including necessary documentation, key terms (like "dependent" or "household size"), eligibility rules, and deadlines - delivered through classroom sessions, counselors, or family workshops. Schools must also share FAFSA information with parents/guardians via written or electronic means and provide paper FAFSA forms upon request. The program selects 12 school districts (four per geographic region) to test the approach, with a final report due to the Governor and Legislature assessing whether to expand it statewide.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2524: Requires Commissioner of Education to review school safety and security plans.

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.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1146: Allows gross income tax deduction for up to $1,200 of unreimbursed expenses incurred by eligible educators for purchase of classroom supplies.

This bill (S 1146) allows eligible K-12 teachers in New Jersey to deduct up to $1,200 annually from their gross income tax for unreimbursed classroom supply expenses. It directly affects public and nonpublic school teachers who personally pay for items like books, pencils, computers, lab equipment, and other daily classroom materials. The deduction applies to expenses not covered by the school district, with the $1,200 limit capping the tax benefit. The policy takes effect for taxable years beginning after the bill’s enactment date.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Income Tax K-12 Education Teachers

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1497: Authorizes State employees to take administrative leave days in observance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha; requires school districts to permit students excused absences for observance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

S 1497 requires New Jersey state employees (including those at Rutgers and other public universities) to be granted one additional administrative leave day per year for each of the religious holidays Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, without using their regular leave allotment. It also mandates that public school districts record absences for these holidays as excused for all students. The bill ensures students absent for these observances cannot be penalized academically (e.g., lose awards or test opportunities) if a parent/guardian provides written notice, and excludes these absences from transcripts or employment forms. These provisions make Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha official excused religious holidays for both state workers and public school students in New Jersey.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3092: Requires certain school districts to hold annual, multi-day program on bullying prevention and intervention.

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.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1859: Upgrades domestic violence-related assault under certain circumstances.

This bill (S 1859) amends New Jersey's assault statute to upgrade certain assaults to "aggravated assault" when committed against specific professionals. It directly affects individuals like firefighters, school staff (teachers, administrators, bus drivers), healthcare workers, and emergency medical personnel when they are attacked while performing their duties. The key provision adds these groups to the list of protected individuals under aggravated assault, increasing penalties for assaults targeting them. The change applies to attacks occurring during work, whether the attacker recognizes the victim's professional role or not. This is a policy adjustment to strengthen legal protections for public safety and service workers.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

All education bills