Education (Curriculum)

S 3082 creates a New Jersey Student Learning Standards Advisory Council with 15 members representing K-12 education, higher education, business, parents, and students to oversee revisions of state education standards. The council will form subject-specific subcommittees that must review existing standards, gather public feedback through online surveys and 60-day comment periods, and consider research and standards from other states before proposing changes. All materials, meeting minutes, and feedback must be posted online for public access. The process requires annual conflict-of-interest disclosures and mandates public hearings before revised standards are submitted to the State Board of Education for adoption. This bill establishes a structured, transparent review mechanism affecting all New Jersey public schools, higher education institutions, and families through the standards revision process.

This bill requires New Jersey public school districts to add instruction about social media and cell phone risks to grades 6 through 12. It expands current requirements by moving this education from technology classes (grades 6-8) to the health curriculum for all grades 6-12. The instruction must cover responsible use, cyber safety, and specifically address how addiction affects mental health, relationships, and development. School districts must implement this as part of existing health education standards, with the state providing sample resources. The bill directly affects all public school students in those grades and their schools.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) to create and maintain a public list of textbook vendors whose materials include "inclusive content" - defined as accurate portrayals of diversity in areas like race, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. School districts must select new textbooks only from vendors on this DOE-listed roster when purchasing for the first time. Exceptions allow districts to request commissioner approval for non-listed vendors, and the rule doesn't apply to textbooks from the state's existing textbook bank or for damaged/lost books needing replacement. The policy directly affects all New Jersey public school districts purchasing new textbooks.

New Jersey's S 370 requires public high schools (grades 9-12) to hold two annual events: a 30-minute assembly in November covering military structure, veterans' contributions, and programs like ROTC/service academies, and a veterans appreciation event. Schools must consult local veterans' associations to develop the appreciation event, which can include honoring veterans, featuring veteran speakers, or alternative military-themed activities. The bill applies immediately to the first full school year after enactment, focusing on providing age-appropriate military and veterans education. It directly affects all New Jersey public high schools with grades 9-12, mandating specific curriculum content and community engagement.

S 786 requires all New Jersey public school districts to include water safety instruction in K-12 health education starting with the 2023-2024 school year. The curriculum must cover flotation device use, recognizing water hazards, responding to rip currents, and swimming near lifeguard-monitored areas. This applies to every district implementing the state's Comprehensive Health and Physical Education standards. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

This bill reinstates an annual sales tax exemption for specific school and recreational items purchased by individuals for non-business use. It exempts computers under $3,000, school computer supplies under $1,000, school supplies (like notebooks and art materials), school instructional materials (textbooks, workbooks), and sport/recreation equipment (gloves, skates, etc.) during a defined 10-day period each year. The exemption period runs from 12:01 a.m. on the ninth day before the first Monday in September through 11:59 p.m. on that Monday. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to sales during exemption periods starting at least 30 days after enactment.

This bill requires New Jersey high school districts (grades 9-12) to add mandatory instruction about compulsive gambling risks to their health and physical education curriculum. The content must cover gambling addiction dangers, financial risks, and probability concepts. The state education commissioner must provide student resources and develop teacher training on identifying gambling issues and treatment options. Implementation begins in the school year after the commissioner completes the training module and updates the state education standards.