This week the lame duck session of the NJ State Legislature continued in full force with numerous legislative committees meeting to consider legislation. In lame duck, any bill that does not pass the Legislature and get signed into law by the Governor, must start over in the next two-year legislative session. Many education-related bills were considered this week.
Here is a summary of the latest activity:
Senate Education Committee
The Senate Education Committee voted to release the follow bills from committee:
This bill expands the type of health care professional that may provide documentation to a school district where students need home instruction due to the student’s health condition. Advanced practice nurses and physician assistants are authorized to do so under the bill. The bill also changes the “trigger” for home instruction services from the current 20 cumulative days to 17 cumulative days. Originally the bill lowered the cumulative eligibility number to 15, but NJPSA was able to obtain the amendment establishing the 17 day mark for the number of cumulative absences in a school year that trigger a district requirement to provide home instruction. The bill does not change the current 10 consecutive days of absence standard. NJPSA supported the bill as amended.
Revises membership and duties of NJ Commission on Environmental Education (S-4679)
This bill expands and updates the New Jersey Commission on Environmental Education, increasing its membership to 32 by adding representatives from the Board of Public Utilities, Department of Agriculture, an additional teacher, industry, a cultural institution, and an environmental justice organization. It encourages appointing members from overburdened communities. The commission’s duties are revised to advise on climate, sustainability, and environmental literacy education statewide. The Inter-agency Work Group’s responsibilities are also updated to promote partnerships that provide professional development and technical support to schools and community organizations for environmental education. NJPSA has a membership seat on this commission. NJPSA was Neutral on this bill.
This concurrent resolution establishes the “Joint Legislative Statesmanship Task Force” to promote civility and respectful behavior among K–12 students across New Jersey. The 12-member task force, composed equally of Senate and General Assembly members from both majority and minority parties, will annually visit schools statewide to teach students about core values of civility, respectful dialogue, resolving disagreements constructively, and demonstrating mutual respect in all forms of communication. Visits will cover a representative mix of school levels, urban, suburban, and rural areas, and all regions of the state. NJPSA Supports this Concurrent Resolution.
Designates second week of September of each year as “Library Awareness Week in New Jersey.” (SJR-31)
This joint resolution designates the second week of September of each year as “Library Awareness Week in New Jersey.” Libraries are vital centers of lifelong learning that promote access to information, intellectual freedom, and equity, serving as a cornerstone of democracy. To foster public support, raise awareness of their resources, and honor library professionals, the state proposes establishing a “Library Awareness Week in New Jersey.” NJPSA Supported this Joint Resolution.
Designates July 30 of each year as “Clarence ‘Coach C’ Collins Day.” (SJR-143)
This joint resolution designates July 30 each year as “Clarence ‘Coach C’ Collins Day.” Coach C was a highly respected figure in Jersey City, known for his 13 years of service at University Academy Charter High School, where he supported students through workshops and seminars addressing youth challenges. He also improved access to internships through his work with the Department of Recreation. Widely recognized for his dedication to young people and the community, the resolution honors his lasting legacy of compassion, service, and positive impact.
NJPSA supported this resolution.
This bill requires the development of an educational fact sheet on water safety for public and nonpublic schools. It further requires the NJDOE to maintain a list of locations providing swim lessons. NJPSA supported this bill.
Regionalization Discussion
The Senate Education Committee also considered S-4861 legislation that requires Executive County Superintendents (ECSs) to establish county-based consolidation plans to combine school districts into regional districts. The bill was heard “for discussion only” which means that the bill was not acted upon by the committee. Chairman Vin Gopal, the sponsor of this bill, was seeking to open the topic of consolidation and regionalization of schools to address affordability and declining enrollment concerns in the state. He agrees that many more conversations are needed with stakeholders. NJPSA opposed S-4861 as written, particularly noting the need for a vote by the citizens of each school district being proposed for consolidation.
Specifically, S-4861 requires the ECS to develop a regionalization plan for his/her county that addresses the following:
- School districts with an enrollment of less than 500 students; and
- The establishment or enlargement of all purpose regionals in the county; or
- The establishment or enlargement of limited purpose regionals in the county.
The ECS is to seek the comment of the impacted districts prior to submitting the report to the Commissioner of Education. The Commissioner has 60 days from receipt to review the plan and either approve, disapprove or modify the plan. Following Commissioner approval, a feasibility study will be completed and shared with constituent districts for comment. The bill does not contain a requirement that the impacted districts vote on the proposal as is currently required.
NJPSA will continue to participate in stakeholder discussions with the bill sponsor in the next legislative session.
Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee
The bill would expand school enrollment flexibility for military-connected students in New Jersey. It broadly defines “military-connected” to include dependents of active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, veterans, retirees, DoD civilian employees, NOAA/Public Health Service uniformed members, and certain school employees working in federally impacted districts.Key provisions of the bill include:
- School continuity after relocation: If a military-connected family moves, the student may stay in their original district for the rest of the school year—and if the move occurs in 11th grade, the student may remain through graduation.
- Access to schools serving military installations: If families cannot access on-base or temporary housing within 30 days of arriving at a duty station, they may enroll their child in schools serving that installation within 10 days.
- Option to transfer from low-performing districts: Families may choose a school serving the installation if their home district scores below 80% on NJQSAC instruction/program indicators.
- Interdistrict choice protections: Military-connected students receive waivers from residency-duration requirements, enrollment preference, nondiscrimination protections, and guaranteed admission to participating schools (regardless of capacity) with proof of temporary military transfer.
NJPSA testified with concerns about this bill because it widely expands the definition of “military-connected child” and does not address funding or transportation. We are in communication with the sponsors, and are hopeful that we can tighten the definition of “military-connected child” to be limited to dependents of active-duty service members, include a timeframe of how long the parent or guardian of the dependent can have retired or was medically discharged, and ensure that the school district enrollment is directly connected to a military order.
Assembly Education Committee
The Assembly Education Committee released the following bills:
Eliminates high school graduation proficiency test (A-4121)
This bill would remove the graduation proficiency test as a prerequisite for graduation. NJPSA supports this bill. This legislation was considered in the last legislative session, but was blocked in the State Senate. Although a companion bill, S-1562 has been filed, it has received no movement in this legislative session.
The bill eliminates the 11th grade high school graduation assessment requirement, prohibits the State Board of Education from including in the state standards for graduation any requirement that students achieve satisfactory performance on a statewide graduation assessment. It removes all statutory requirements and actions related to the passage of a graduation assessment in 11th grade in order to graduate high school. You can read NJPSA remarks here.
Limits certain requirements for certification of career and technical education teachers (A-5824)
The bill limits certification requirements for career and technical education (CTE) teachers. It prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring candidates for a CTE Certificate of Eligibility to complete an educator preparation program longer than 200 hours or one academic year. Currently, candidates in the CTE Alternate Route must complete 50 hours of pre-professional experience followed by a two-year, 350-hour preparation program. NJPSA Supports this bill.
This bill was amended considerably in committee on the 4th. It expands eligibility for the existing STEM grant program to allow for retired educators to participate. Changes addressed qualifications and notification requirements.
NJPSA Supports this bill.
This legislation is sponsored by the Speaker of the Assembly and seeks to add transparency to the funding process, and to address several widely-expressed concerns in the current SFRA that may lead to sudden unexpected shifts in year-to-year state aid numbers for districts. The bill would also establish a “funding portal” wherein the DOE would make available all public information related to funding calculations to each district.
NJPSA supports this bill in concept, but has expressed concern with several provisions. Please refer to our testimony for our full comments before the committee.
Urges school districts to establish concussion management teams (ACR-165)
This is a resolution simply encouraging districts to develop concussion management teams. A resolution of this nature is not legally binding, but carries the weight of legislative voice.
NJPSA supports this resolution.
This bill is moving in tandem with A5966, as it also addresses issues with the funding formula, but in separate areas. Key provisions would; eliminate the use of a census model for special education funding and replace it with population based calculations; allow for flexibility in using various inflationary measures beyond the CPI in making certain calculations; and make various adjustments to limit aid reductions, without corresponding limits on aid increases elsewhere.
NJPSA supports this bill as amended and advanced. We are tracking its progress. Please refer to our attached testimony for our full comments before the committee.
For more information on any legislation that moved this week, or any other bill, please contact your NJPSA Government Relations team, Debra Bradley, Jennie Lamon or Chris Nelson at any time. Thank you for your advocacy and for all that you do!