This bill clarifies how school districts pay for non-resident students attending "renaissance school projects" in New Jersey. It requires a student's home district (where they live) to pay the nonprofit operator 95% of the district's per-pupil spending, plus specific state funds designated for security, special education, and preschool programs. The payment must be made in 12 equal monthly installments, covering both the base cost and associated categorical aid. This applies only to students not residing in the district where the school is physically located, while resident students' funding remains handled by their local district. The bill does not change academic requirements or eligibility for these school projects.
S 3387 allows New Jersey National Guard members to transfer part of their tuition benefit to a spouse or dependent child. Currently, Guard members receive up to 16 tuition-free credits per semester at New Jersey public colleges. Under this bill, a spouse can receive the full benefit (100%, up to 16 credits), while a dependent child receives half (50%, up to 8 credits). To qualify, the spouse or child must be enrolled as a student and have applied for other available financial aid, and the member can only transfer the benefit to one person.
This bill requires all New Jersey public schools to prominently display a direct link to the subsidized school meals application on their official websites. It directly affects public schools by adding this website posting requirement to existing rules about meal applications. The key provision mandates that schools place the link in a visible location on their internet sites, making it easier for families to access the application. This change aims to improve accessibility to school meal programs without altering eligibility rules or funding.
This bill allows high school students aged 16-18 to earn graduation credits in health, safety, and physical education by completing a county fire academy course. To qualify, students must pass a junior firefighter exam and commit to two years of volunteer service at their local fire department. The policy amends New Jersey's education rules to accept fire academy completion as fulfillment of specific graduation requirements, directly affecting eligible students in participating school districts. It does not replace existing junior firefighter auxiliary programs.
This bill requires New Jersey public school districts to include voter education in the 12th-grade social studies curriculum as part of the state's Student Learning Standards. It mandates teaching students about voting importance, eligibility and registration processes, and how to locate polling places or request absentee ballots. School districts must incorporate this content directly into their existing curriculum, with optional collaboration between schools and local election officials to develop materials or provide registration forms. The law applies to all public high schools and takes effect immediately upon enactment for the first full school year after passage.
This bill allows public high school students in New Jersey who observe Ramadan to opt out of required physical education classes and sports participation during the holy month. Students may substitute PE with an instructional course or study hall (earning equivalent graduation credits) by submitting written notice to their principal before scheduling. Student-athletes may also be excused from sports or cheerleading programs by notifying their coach, with coaches prohibited from penalizing such absences. The policy specifically accommodates Muslim students' religious obligation to fast during Ramadan, without exempting them from other required health education courses.
This bill establishes a 3-year pilot program in New Jersey's public elementary schools to test the use of therapy dogs in wellness initiatives. Participating school districts must apply with details about their schools, student wellness programs, and their specific plans for incorporating therapy dogs. The Department of Education will select two districts from each of the state's three regions (southern, central, northern), ensuring representation across urban, suburban, and rural areas. The program requires the DOE to provide guidance on therapy dog activities, handler training, dog health monitoring, and insurance, and mandates a final report evaluating the program's impact on student academic performance and health outcomes by June 2029.
This bill changes New Jersey's NJBEST program by replacing a one-time $750 savings grant with an annual $1,500 grant for eligible contributors. It affects people or organizations opening NJBEST accounts with adjusted gross income between $0 and $75,000, who will now receive a three-to-one match on annual deposits (up to $1,500 per account). The grant applies each year before the designated beneficiary turns 14, instead of as a single initial payment. This policy update modifies an existing program established under P.L.2021, c.128 to provide ongoing savings incentives.
S 1370 requires that all new flooring installed in schools (K-12 public or private) and licensed child care centers must be certified by the manufacturer as mercury-free before a construction permit can be issued. This applies to any new construction, repair, or upgrade of flooring in these facilities. Manufacturers falsely claiming mercury-free flooring face civil penalties of $10,000 for a first offense and $25,000 for repeat violations. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment.
This bill allows high school students in grades 11-12 at New Jersey public schools to miss up to three days per school year for college visits, visits to technical institutions, or military recruitment activities without penalty. Students must provide documentation to their school, and these absences will not appear on transcripts, job applications, or affect perfect attendance records. Military recruitment-related activities include required testing, medical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting for enlistment. The law aims to support students exploring college or military career paths while maintaining attendance accountability.
