Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2654: Requires school districts to provide instruction on interacting with law enforcement as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies.

This bill (S 2654) requires all New Jersey public school districts to add instruction about interacting with law enforcement to their social studies curriculum starting in the 2018-2019 school year. It directly affects all K-12 students by mandating age-appropriate lessons on mutual respect during police interactions, the role of law enforcement in public safety, individual responsibilities to comply with directives, and legal rights during encounters. The curriculum must be developed with an advisory committee including police unions, civil rights groups, and educators, split into two parts: simpler content for grades K-4 and more detailed material for grades 5-12. The law specifies concrete teaching requirements without altering existing standards or creating new enforcement mechanisms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates new curriculum content on law enforcement interactions, enhancing social studies education without restricting funding or access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education School Safety

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3047: Requires school districts to maintain and pay premiums for student accident insurance.

This bill requires New Jersey public school districts to cover all costs for student accident insurance, eliminating the previous option for districts to pass premiums to parents. It mandates that districts maintain and pay for insurance covering bodily injuries sustained by students during interscholastic sports, intramural programs, regular classes, extracurricular activities, and related student travel. The bill repeals the existing provision allowing districts to require parents to share insurance costs. This directly affects all public school districts and their students participating in covered activities. The policy change ensures districts bear full responsibility for this secondary insurance coverage, which typically supplements parents' primary health insurance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school districts to cover all accident insurance costs, eliminating parental fees and ensuring student safety coverage without financial burden on families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 569: Establishes County-Based School Security Pilot Program in DOE; appropriates $15 million.

S 569 establishes a three-year County-Based School Security Pilot Program in Essex, Mercer, and Camden counties, directly affecting public school students and districts in those areas. The bill provides $15 million from the General Fund to fund two key components: county-based mental health services (including screenings, counseling, and crisis intervention) and enhanced school security infrastructure (such as active shooter training and bullet-resistant shields). The program requires collaboration between the Education Department and other state agencies, with annual reports to the Governor and Legislature evaluating the pilot's effectiveness. This initiative aims to address student mental health needs and physical security in participating school districts through concrete, funded provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $15M from General Fund for school security pilot program, funding essential public safety services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates $15M for school security infrastructure and mental health services in K-12 districts, directly funding student safety and support programs within education context.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health services (screenings, counseling) as key program component, directly advancing healthcare access for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3082: Creates advisory council to oversee revision of New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates council to revise education standards with public input and research, aiming to improve K-12 learning standards through structured review and feedback process.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1044: Requires school districts to include instruction on risks associated with social media and cell phone addiction in grades 6 through 12.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates curriculum expansion on social media risks to address mental health, enhancing student well-being through education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health education on social media addiction impacts, directly supporting mental health services through preventive curriculum in schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1831: Establishes Statewide youth apprenticeship program; appropriates $25 million annually.

New Jersey's S 1831 establishes a statewide youth apprenticeship program for students aged 16-21, directly affecting high school students (particularly 11th and 12th graders), employers, and low-income apprentices. The bill creates career-connected high school pathways, combines paid on-the-job training with community college dual enrollment, and prioritizes high-demand sectors like healthcare, IT, manufacturing, and green jobs. It appropriates $25 million annually starting in FY2026 to fund the program, including tax credits of up to $5,000 per apprentice for employers who pay at least 60% of journeyperson wages and meet diversity and reporting requirements. The program requires annual reporting on participation demographics, completion rates, and state savings from reduced reliance on student aid, while prohibiting duplication of existing apprenticeship programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $25M annually for youth apprenticeship program, directly increasing state funding for workforce development and public service expansion.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $25M annually for youth apprenticeship program creating career pathways, dual enrollment, and expanding access to high-demand sectors for high school students.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds $25M annual youth apprenticeship program with paid training, dual enrollment, and career pathways in high-demand sectors, directly advancing employment opportunities for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education K-12 Education Apprenticeships Child Labor Workforce Development

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 115: Establishes three-year nonpublic school pupil transportation pilot program in Ocean County to provide funding to county consortium of nonpublic schools that will assume responsibility for mandated nonpublic school busing.

S 115 creates a three-year pilot program in Ocean County to transfer responsibility for nonpublic school student transportation from school districts to a local consortium of nonpublic schools. The program provides funding directly to this consortium (at $1,000 per student) to cover required transportation for pupils attending participating nonpublic schools, replacing the school districts' obligation under existing law. If transportation costs exceed the $1,000 amount, parents receive the difference directly from the consortium. School districts in Ocean County may no longer offer "courtesy busing" to students in the consortium, and any unspent funds must be refunded to the state. This applies only to Ocean County nonpublic schools currently requiring district-provided transportation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $1,000/student funding to nonpublic schools for transportation, enhancing K-12 educational access and support through direct financial assistance.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill funds nonpublic school transportation via $1,000/student pilot program, directly advancing transportation services for students in Ocean County.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SR 46: Urges Congress to amend tax code to exclude all forms of discharged student loans from federal income tax.

This New Jersey Senate resolution (SR 46) urges Congress to permanently change the tax code so that all forgiven student loans - such as those canceled through income-driven repayment plans, public service programs (like Teacher Loan Forgiveness), or death/disability - no longer count as taxable income. Currently, most discharged loans are subject to federal income tax, while limited exceptions (e.g., public service forgiveness or death/disability loans forgiven between 2017-2026) are not. The resolution seeks to eliminate these inconsistencies by making all discharged student loan amounts tax-exempt permanently. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change the law but requests Congress take action.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill seeks tax relief for student loan borrowers by excluding discharged loans from taxable income, aligning with tax relief indicators for lower/middle income groups.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill removes tax burden on forgiven student loans (including Teacher Loan Forgiveness), supporting educators' financial stability and improving higher education access by reducing debt barriers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Student Financial Aid Teachers

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2196: Requires DOE to maintain list of textbook vendors that use inclusive material and school districts to use textbooks from those vendors.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusive textbook content (diversity in race, gender, etc.) via DOE-listed vendors, advancing curriculum inclusivity and educational access for diverse students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2218: Requires Secretary of Higher Education to create and maintain database of Educational Opportunity Fund student admissions.

This bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to create and maintain a database tracking available student spots in Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) programs at participating colleges. Colleges must notify the Secretary's office within one business day when a spot is filled, so the database stays updated. Campus EOF directors must share information about available spots at other colleges with students who haven't secured a placement. The goal is to improve communication and placement opportunities for eligible students seeking EOF program enrollment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill improves access to EOF programs by requiring real-time tracking and information sharing of available student spots, enhancing educational opportunity for higher education students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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