Establishes Teaching Scholars Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
S 3544 establishes the Teaching Scholars Loan Redemption Program within New Jersey's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. It provides eligible New Jersey high school graduates pursuing teaching degrees at in-state colleges with loan coverage (up to $40,000 for undergrad and $10,000 for grad school) in exchange for five years of full-time public school teaching in New Jersey. To qualify, applicants must be NJ residents, graduate from a NJ high school, exhaust all other grants/scholarships, and maintain academic standing. The program redeems up to $10,000 per year of teaching service, totaling $50,000 maximum, to address the state's educator shortage by incentivizing top graduates to become teachers.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 19, 2026
Last action Feb 19, 2026
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Full legislative history
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Total actions
1
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0
Committee
0
Feb 19, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Shirley Turner
DDemocratic
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