Education (Testing & Assessment)

S 239 eliminates standardized test scores as a measure of student growth in evaluating teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals. The bill amends New Jersey law to explicitly prohibit using standardized assessments for this purpose in evaluation rubrics, replacing them with multiple measures of student learning and professional practice. School districts must adopt new evaluation systems by December 2012, using criteria like multiple objective measures (excluding standardized tests), professional standards, and observation protocols. This directly affects all K-12 school staff in New Jersey whose evaluations rely on student growth metrics. The change modifies existing teacher evaluation rules under the TEACHNJ Act to remove standardized tests as a factor in determining educator effectiveness.

This bill (S 347) requires New Jersey's State Board of Education to reinstate the ASVAB-AFQT (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery-Armed Forces Qualifying Test) as an approved alternative test for high school graduation. It directly affects public high school students who need to meet graduation proficiency requirements, allowing them to use the ASVAB-AFQT instead of the standard state test. The key provision adds the ASVAB-AFQT back to the list of "substitute competency tests" that students can use to demonstrate mastery of state learning standards. This change reverses a 2023 decision by the State Board that removed the ASVAB-AFQT from approved alternatives. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

S 537, "The Smarter Lunchroom Act," requires New Jersey public and nonpublic schools to adopt simple, low-cost strategies from The Smarter Lunchroom Movement to promote healthier student meal choices. It directs the Commissioner of Education to support schools in implementing specific changes, such as placing fruits near cash registers, using creative names for vegetables, and positioning nutritious foods first in serving lines. The bill also mandates that the Department of Education provide clear, plain-language online resources about these strategies, including a self-assessment tool. This directly affects over 1.37 million students in New Jersey schools, where nearly 25% of children aged 10-17 are overweight or obese, aiming to improve cafeteria habits through evidence-based design.

This bill creates a matching grant program for New Jersey public school districts, charter schools, and designated "renaissance" schools to address pandemic-related learning loss. It requires schools to use a portion of their federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to implement evidence-based programs that increase instructional time and accelerate learning, with the state matching 50% of those funds. Eligible schools must demonstrate increased learning loss (via state assessment data) and submit detailed plans for interventions like extended learning time, tutoring, summer programs, or targeted academic support. The program is funded from state ARP funds, capped at $200 million, and requires annual reports on effectiveness.

S 2016 requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to adopt a test-optional admissions policy for undergraduate programs, meaning students can choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. Public institutions may still require tests for applicants to honors/specialized programs, those with equivalent high school instruction elsewhere, or for scholarship applications that specifically demand test scores. The bill does not prevent schools from considering voluntary test submissions and encourages private colleges to adopt similar policies. This directly affects public higher education institutions in New Jersey and their prospective undergraduate students.

This bill establishes the Public Education Innovation Fund within New Jersey's Department of Education to provide grants to low-performing public schools for implementing educational innovation programs. Schools qualify if they meet specific academic performance thresholds based on state assessment results, such as high percentages of students scoring below proficiency in math or language arts. Businesses that donate to this fund receive tax credits - up to $10,000 annually for gross income tax, and corporation business tax credits - directly tied to their donations. The total tax credits available annually are capped at $5 million, with certifications issued on a first-come, first-served basis. The fund aims to address academic barriers through innovative strategies in schools meeting the defined performance criteria.