This bill establishes a three-year grant program (the "UNITY Grant Program") administered by New Jersey's Commissioner of Education. It provides grants to school district employees facing adverse situations (as defined by the commissioner) to cover free or low-cost preschool or higher education costs for their dependents. Employees must apply through the commissioner, who determines grant amounts and may offer multi-year awards. The program requires a final report to the governor and legislature detailing implementation, participant numbers, and recommendations for future use. Funding comes from the state General Fund.
This bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services (DHS) specifically for transportation costs associated with the Larc Norcross School Special Needs Adult Program. The program serves adults over age 21 with disabilities who have transitioned out of school-based services, providing daily care, therapy, and social activities. The funding addresses a gap where Medicaid transportation coverage is insufficient, ensuring participants have reliable access to these services. The appropriation is a supplemental addition to the existing fiscal year 2026 budget (P.L.2025, c.74), effective immediately.
This bill amends New Jersey's charter school law to strengthen accountability and transparency. It requires charter schools to use random lotteries for enrollment when oversubscribed, prioritize students from the school's district of residence, and report annual demographic data (including race, special education status, and free/reduced lunch eligibility) to the state and post online. Charter schools must also maintain waiting lists and provide annual enrollment demographic reports. These changes directly affect charter schools, students seeking enrollment, and school districts that fund charter schools through per-pupil payments.
This bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a water safety fact sheet for schools, developed with input from organizations like the American Red Cross. The fact sheet must include practical tips for preventing drowning, the importance of swim lessons, and locations offering free or low-cost water safety courses in each county. Public school districts must distribute the fact sheet to parents/guardians during initial student enrollment, while nonpublic schools may choose to distribute it but are not required to. The bill directly affects parents of newly enrolled students in public schools and provides accessible resources for water safety education across the state. It takes effect after a four-month implementation period following enactment.
This bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to revoke a for-profit college's license to award degrees if it fails to meet specific graduation rate targets. For four-year programs, schools must achieve a 75% six-year graduation rate for full-time students within six years of the bill's effective date; for two-year programs, a 75% three-year rate is required. Schools not meeting these targets by the deadline face automatic license revocation, though the Secretary may grant additional time if a school is making sufficient progress after five years. The law directly affects for-profit degree-granting colleges in New Jersey.
This bill requires New Jersey county colleges to collaborate with county social services boards and state agencies to expand access to social services for low-income students. It mandates colleges to work directly with social services representatives to help students apply for programs like SNAP, TANF, and childcare subsidies, and to streamline enrollment processes. The bill also directs colleges and workforce boards to partner with community organizations to identify unemployed residents who could benefit from college enrollment for career pathways. These provisions aim to connect students with existing support systems and improve access to education and workforce opportunities.
This New Jersey bill (A-2227) creates a state-funded program to incentivize certified nurse aides and nursing students to work as direct support professionals (DSPs), such as in developmental disability care. It requires the Department of Health to distribute funds to employers so they can pay DSPs at standard certified nurse aide rates, and mandates nursing schools to grant academic credit for DSP work toward nursing degrees. The bill appropriates state funds from the General Fund to implement these provisions, directly affecting certified nurse aides, nursing students, healthcare employers, and approved nursing schools. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
AJR 70 designates February 28 of each year as "Amistad Day" in New Jersey to commemorate the 1839 Amistad mutiny, where enslaved Africans fought for freedom aboard a ship. This annual observance directly affects New Jersey residents by encouraging schools, officials, and communities to recognize the historical significance of the case. The bill requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation calling for appropriate ceremonies and educational activities to highlight the Amistad case's role in the abolitionist movement and the fight for liberty. It is a commemorative resolution with no new policies or funding, solely focused on marking this date for historical remembrance.
This bill requires New Jersey's Governor, with the Commissioner of Education, to take actions protecting the state's educational resources from federal interference. Specifically, it mandates challenging federal policies limiting state authority over education, supporting efforts to challenge the Supreme Court's *Plyler v. Doe* decision (which guarantees public school access to undocumented children), and backing local initiatives preserving educational resources. The law directly affects New Jersey's public education system, state officials, and students, particularly those in immigrant communities. It establishes a state framework for opposing federal education policies but does not change existing school funding or curriculum rules. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill establishes clear rules for New Jersey public schools when removing students for mental health clearance. Schools may only remove a student in an emergency where they or others face immediate physical danger, and must notify parents immediately (with a written report within 48 hours). It requires schools to provide free mental health clearances, ensure continued instruction during removal (if over 5 days), and update a student’s education plan (like an IEP or 504 plan) after return. The bill also prohibits schools from imposing extra conditions beyond the mental health clearance for re-entry.
