This bill (S 1773) requires New Jersey school districts to include specific post-graduation data in annual school performance report cards. It mandates reporting the number and percentage of graduates placed in employment or further education, including apprenticeships, as part of the required school profile. The change applies to all high schools and districts, adding this metric to existing report card requirements like graduation rates and student test scores. The bill aims to provide families and communities with clearer insights into student outcomes after high school.
This bill directs New Jersey's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to raise the income protection allowance for independent adult students applying for the Tuition Aid Grant Program. The change aligns the state's calculation method with the federal standard used for Pell Grants, allowing more of a student's income to be disregarded when determining financial eligibility. Independent adult students will benefit from potentially higher aid eligibility as the state formula becomes more generous. The law takes effect immediately and applies to grants awarded in the first academic year after enactment.
This bill establishes a 13-member Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding to study New Jersey's higher education system, including its organizational structure, oversight mechanisms, and financial support. The task force will include representatives from state agencies, universities, colleges, and labor organizations, with appointments made within 60 days of the bill's effective date. The group is required to hold at least one public hearing, examine how current funding affects tuition and student outcomes, and submit data-driven recommendations to the Legislature on how to adequately and equitably fund public higher education institutions. The bill appropriates $200,000 to cover the task force's operational costs and member reimbursement for necessary expenses.
This bill, the "Student-Parent Protection Act," protects parenting students in New Jersey higher education institutions. It prohibits schools from requiring students to withdraw, take leave, or limit studies solely due to parenting, pregnancy, or pregnancy-related issues. Schools must provide reasonable accommodations (like makeup work, flexible scheduling, or excused absences for medical needs) and create written anti-discrimination policies that are posted online and distributed at orientations. The law defines "parenting students" as those enrolled in higher education who are parents or legal guardians of children under 18.
This bill establishes a Statewide Skills Academy Network to connect county colleges, vocational schools, and union training programs across New Jersey. It appropriates $1 million to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to support the network’s work in improving collaboration, identifying workforce training gaps, and developing accessible short-term programs in high-demand fields. The network will focus on sharing best practices, expanding geographic access to training, and creating an integrated credentialing system to help workers gain job-ready skills. Regional skills academies selected through a competitive process will use grant funds to develop training sites offering evening and weekend classes. The bill directly affects educational institutions, workforce training providers, and workers seeking credentials in growing industries.
New Jersey's S 2180 requires private lenders offering non-federal postsecondary education loans (like private student loans) to register annually with the state Banking Commissioner and report detailed data about their borrowers. It mandates that these lenders disclose information such as outstanding debt amounts, default rates, interest rates, and borrower demographics for loans issued to New Jersey residents. The law excludes banks, credit unions, and federal student loans from these requirements. This bill creates transparency for borrowers and regulators by making lender practices more visible, though it does not directly change loan terms or provide new borrower protections.
S 2243 requires every public college and university in New Jersey to create a menstrual equity task force within six months of the law's effective date. The task force, appointed by each institution's president and including diverse campus stakeholders (students, faculty, housing, health centers, etc.), must develop a detailed plan for free menstrual product access within six months. The plan must cover product needs, distribution locations, costs, and a 12-month implementation timeline. Institutions must implement the approved plan within one year, ensuring equal access to menstrual products while reducing stigma. The bill defines "menstrual equity" as removing barriers to care and addressing stigma around menstruation.
This bill (S 1461) modifies New Jersey's statewide academic credit transfer agreements for public colleges and establishes a New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. It requires public institutions to create a unified transfer agreement ensuring seamless credit transfers for general education courses, associate degrees (including those earned through NJ PLACE apprenticeship programs), and dual/concurrent enrollment credits between all public colleges. The agreement must include standardized policies for credit application, an appeals process for disputes, and data collection to monitor compliance. The new Ombudsman will oversee implementation, resolve transfer issues, and ensure the agreement supports student academic success. This directly affects students transferring between New Jersey's public community colleges and four-year institutions.
