This bill (A 215) requires New Jersey public schools with grades 9-12 to hold two annual events. First, a 30-minute assembly in November (coinciding with Veterans Day) providing age-appropriate content about the U.S. military structure, veterans' contributions, ROTC, and service academies. Second, a separate veterans appreciation event, such as honoring veterans, featuring veteran speakers, or participating in military-focused educational activities. Schools must consult local veterans' associations to help plan the appreciation event. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment for the first full school year after passage.
This bill creates a permanent pathway for teachers from other states to obtain New Jersey teaching certifications without additional testing. It establishes two specific routes: one for standard "certificate of eligibility" (CE) and another for "certificate of eligibility with advanced standing" (CEAS). To qualify, teachers must hold a valid out-of-state certificate in a comparable subject or grade level, have taught in that state within the last two years, provide two recommendation letters, pass a background check, and meet New Jersey's residency requirements. The bill explicitly prohibits requiring new teachers to complete performance assessments or basic skills tests as a condition of certification.
This bill (S 3693) expands restrictions on physical restraint and seclusion to apply to **all students** in New Jersey public schools - not just students with disabilities - as previously required. It mandates schools to collect data on restraint/seclusion incidents, provide annual staff training on safe techniques, and immediately notify parents when restraint is used (with written reports within 48 hours). The bill also prohibits prone-position restraint without a physician’s written authorization and requires documented behavioral intervention plans within one month of any restraint incident. These changes aim to enhance student safety while standardizing procedures across all public schools.
This bill provides free tuition at New Jersey public colleges and universities for dependent children and surviving spouses of military personnel killed while on duty. Eligible individuals must be New Jersey residents, enrolled full-time in undergraduate programs at designated institutions (like Rutgers, NJIT, or county colleges), and the state covers tuition costs not already covered by other scholarships or aid. Benefits are limited to eight years: from high school graduation for children or from the service member's death for surviving spouses. The program takes effect immediately for the 2020-2021 academic year.
This bill modifies New Jersey's Bridge Year Pilot Program to exempt students with disabilities from the requirement to take college credits during their bridge year. Instead, these students may participate in vocational programs or transition services as outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP), determined by their IEP team and parent/guardian. It also adjusts age eligibility to allow students who would turn 20 during the program to participate if their IEP requires it. The bill applies to students in the 2021 and 2022 graduating classes enrolled in the pilot program.
This bill provides a $3.5 million supplemental appropriation to fund the Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) program for adult students in career and technical education. It directly affects eligible adult students enrolled in county vocational school programs (minimum four months) who are New Jersey residents, have household incomes between $0-$65,000, and have applied for all other available grants/scholarships. The funding covers remaining tuition and approved fees after other state, federal, or institutional aid is applied, acting as "last-dollar" support. Eligibility requires good academic standing, enrollment in programs leading to industry certifications or licenses, and meeting residency requirements.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), with input from the Department of Education (DOE), to create a private database of new teachers (those with a teaching certificate but not yet a full license) and host three annual job fairs across the state. The database will include contact details and certification information for new teachers, who can opt out or limit how they're contacted. School districts can use the database to find new teachers, and the job fairs will connect them with new teachers, teacher training program students, and other certified educators. The bill also allows DOLWD to charge a small fee to participating schools to cover job fair costs.
This bill lowers the mandatory school transportation mileage thresholds in New Jersey: elementary students living more than 1.5 miles from school and secondary students living more than 1.5 miles must now qualify for district-provided transportation (down from 2 miles and 2.5 miles, respectively). It allows school districts to optionally provide transportation for students living closer than these new limits, with parents potentially paying costs. Parents may also formally waive transportation services for the school year, though districts must create hardship policies for affected families. The bill includes a cost cap of $675 annually (adjusted for inflation) for transportation to nonpublic schools within 20 miles, with districts covering costs if bids stay under this limit.
This bill extends New Jersey's existing protections for young students by expanding the grade range covered under restrictions on school expulsions and suspensions. It prohibits expulsions for students in kindergarten through third grade (previously only through second grade), except for gun-related offenses under the "Zero Tolerance for Guns Act." It also bans out-of-school suspensions for these grades, except when the conduct is violent or sexual in nature and endangers others. These changes directly affect all public and charter school students in kindergarten through third grade across New Jersey.
This bill phases out New Jersey's state tuition aid grants for students attending proprietary (for-profit) colleges. Starting with the first full academic year after enactment, new students at these institutions will no longer qualify for state aid grants. Current students who received aid before the phase-out period can continue receiving it until they are no longer eligible under existing rules. The policy directly affects students at licensed for-profit colleges seeking state financial assistance for tuition.
