This bill (A1443, "The New Jersey YouthBuild Act") creates a state grant program administered by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to fund YouthBuild programs for economically disadvantaged youth, particularly those who have not completed high school. It directly affects eligible youth (ages 16-24) and community organizations that can apply for grants to run these programs. Key provisions require funded programs to provide balanced services: 50% classroom education (including high school diploma preparation) and 50% construction/vocational training in housing rehabilitation for low-income communities, plus counseling, leadership development, and a stipend for participants. The program aims to promote economic self-sufficiency through job skills, education, and community-focused housing projects.
This New Jersey bill allows high school juniors and seniors (grades 11-12) to miss up to three school days per year for college visits, tours of technical schools, or military recruitment activities without penalty. Absences for military enlistment prep - like testing, medical evaluations, or interviews - are specifically designated as excused. Schools cannot list these absences on student transcripts, job applications, or attendance records, and they won’t affect a student’s perfect attendance status. The policy aims to support college and career pathway exploration while ensuring no academic or administrative disadvantage for participating students.
This bill creates a grant program to connect New Jersey county college students with paid manufacturing internships through partnerships with local manufacturers. County colleges applying for grants must partner with approved manufacturers, prioritize internships in high-demand occupations, and use 85% of grant funds for student stipends while reserving 15% for program administration and career counseling. Students who complete these internships earn academic credit toward their associate's degree and may receive job offers from participating manufacturers. The program requires annual reporting on participation numbers, skills gained, job placements, and fund usage to track outcomes.
This bill (A-913) requires New Jersey's Department of Education to create a free program for school coaches to obtain CPR certification. It directly affects coaches in public school districts and nonpublic schools who lead athletic activities. The program must use national CPR guidelines, include hands-on training, and be modeled after recognized organizations like the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. All costs for implementing this program will be covered by the state, not the coaches or schools.
This bill creates a temporary five-year teaching certification program for veterans in New Jersey. It allows veterans who have completed at least four years of honorable military service, earned 60 college credits, and passed subject-matter exams to receive a temporary certificate while enrolled in an approved educator preparation program at a New Jersey university. School districts can hire these veterans full- or part-time, and their teaching experience counts toward their program's clinical practice requirement. The program applies to veterans honorably discharged from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve components.
This bill (A 809) creates a grant program for New Jersey school districts to develop in-district special education programs, reducing the need to place students with disabilities out-of-district. It directly affects school districts and students requiring special education services by providing start-up funds for program development, including curriculum, staff training, and equipment. Districts must submit proposals detailing how their programs will lower costs associated with out-of-district placements, with grants awarded based on program quality and cost-reduction potential across regional areas. The program requires annual data collection on student outcomes and costs, with a statewide evaluation report due to the legislature within three years.
This bill extends the maximum distance for state-funded transportation to nonpublic (private) school students from 20 miles to 30 miles in specific New Jersey counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Ocean, Salem, Sussex, and Warren. It requires school districts to provide bus transportation or a cash payment (if bids exceed state limits) for eligible students living within 30 miles of their nonpublic school. Students must use existing bus stops serving those living within 20 miles of the school. The state covers all costs for eligible transportation or payments, moving this provision from temporary annual appropriations to permanent law.
This New Jersey bill lowers the cost threshold for state reimbursement of special education expenses from $40,000 to $35,000 for students educated in regular public school settings. School districts will now receive 90% state funding for costs exceeding this new threshold (previously $40,000), while maintaining 75% reimbursement for costs above $40,000 in separate public schools and $55,000 for private school placements. It directly affects school districts serving students with disabilities requiring intensive services, adjusting how they receive state aid for high-cost special education programs. The bill is pending before the Assembly Education Committee as of January 2026.
This bill requires all New Jersey public and nonpublic schools to place at least one FDA-registered portable anti-choking device (using manual suction to clear airway blockages) in accessible locations like cafeterias, school nurse offices, and other similar areas during school hours and events. Schools must also develop policies requiring training for nurses and staff in airway management and device use, with annual educational opportunities provided by the state. The Department of Education will reimburse schools for device costs through a specified application process. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment.
This bill transfers certain school district employees from the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) to the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). It applies to school employees hired on or after the bill's effective date who earn above a minimum salary threshold (for those eligible to enroll between November 2, 2008, and May 21, 2010) and work more than 20 hours per week. These employees will be enrolled in PERS within 180 days, with service credit for prior DCRP service, though this credit does not count toward pension calculations. The state will cover the unfunded liability from the transfer via a one-time payment amortized over 20 years.
