This bill creates the School-Based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids program within the Department of Children and Families to support student mental health. It requires school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools to develop specific mental health support programs that connect students with high behavioral health needs to the new SPARK program navigator. The SPARK program, operated by the New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative, will provide same-day psychiatric consultations, referrals to community providers, and assistance with school re-entry after a mental health crisis. Access to these services is limited to students in kindergarten through grade 12 and requires written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Additionally, the bill mandates that schools have designated staff or formal agreements with external providers to ensure ongoing counseling support for their students.
This bill requires public school districts in New Jersey to provide a daily lunch period of at least 30 seated minutes and a daily recess period of at least 20 minutes for students in grades kindergarten through eight. The legislation expands current recess requirements, which previously applied only to students in grades kindergarten through five, to include older elementary and middle school students. While districts must generally provide these breaks, they may deny recess to a student no more than twice per week for code violations, provided the student participates in restorative justice activities instead, and may also deny recess based on medical advice or a 504 plan. The law does not require recess on days when the school schedule is substantially shortened due to early dismissal or delayed opening.
This New Jersey Senate concurrent resolution urges the United States Congress to pass the "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023." The bill aims to provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all school children in the country, regardless of their family's income. Additionally, the legislation would eliminate existing school food debt and reimburse schools for any unpaid meal debts. By sending this resolution to federal lawmakers, the state is advocating for a permanent expansion of the current school meal system to address child hunger nationwide.
This bill creates a new mental health initiative called the School-Based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids program within the Department of Children and Families to support students in New Jersey schools. It requires school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects to develop specific mental health support programs that connect students with high behavioral health needs to the new SPARK program navigator. The program will provide same-day psychiatric consultations, referrals to community care, and assistance with returning to school after a mental health crisis, all of which require written parental consent. Additionally, the legislation mandates that schools establish clear guidelines for privacy, care coordination, and transition plans to ensure consistent support across the state.
This bill creates a three-year pilot program in large New Jersey counties to allow groups of nonpublic schools to share funding for nursing services. Under the plan, school districts would transfer state aid currently given for nonpublic nursing directly to a nonprofit consortium that would deliver these services to participating students. The legislation requires the consortium to undergo annual audits and mandates that the state education commissioner evaluate the program's success after two years to decide whether to expand it statewide.
This New Jersey concurrent resolution urges the United States Congress to pass the "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023." The proposed federal law would provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all school children regardless of their family's income. Additionally, the act aims to eliminate school food debt by reimbursing schools for all unpaid meal charges. This measure is intended to address child hunger and support families across the country.
This bill creates a three-year pilot program in Essex, Mercer, and Camden counties to enhance school safety and student mental health support. The initiative provides $15 million in funding to deliver clinical mental health services, such as counseling and crisis intervention, alongside security upgrades like active shooter training and protective equipment. Implementation requires collaboration between the Department of Education and other state agencies, with district selection based on reported violence and bullying data. At the end of the pilot period, the Commissioner of Education must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature to evaluate the program's effectiveness.
This bill creates a $500 million grant program within the Department of Education to help school districts improve air quality and energy efficiency in their buildings. The funds are specifically designated for repairing, maintaining, or upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, with a requirement that new systems meet specific ventilation and filtration standards. Priority for these grants is given to districts serving underserved communities where at least half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Each district must secure its own local funding before receiving state money, and the grants will cover up to 75 percent of eligible project costs.
This bill requires public schools in New Jersey to start a breakfast program if at least five percent of their students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. School districts must submit implementation plans to the Department of Agriculture by specific deadlines, or they must follow a standard model plan provided by the state if they fail to submit their own. The law includes a waiver process for schools that lack the necessary staff, facilities, or funding to operate the program immediately, allowing them to request an exemption if they outline a plan to address these gaps in the future.
This bill allows New Jersey school districts to use leftover state funding from one nonpublic school program to pay for another, rather than requiring them to return the unused money to the state. Specifically, it permits funds originally designated for nursing services to be applied toward security services, and vice versa, if a district spends less than the amount received for either program. The legislation amends existing laws governing state aid for nonpublic schools to streamline how districts manage these specific financial resources.
