As the busy spring season at the State House continues, several legislative committees met over the past week and advanced various measures affecting local school districts. The following provides a rundown of bills that progressed over the last week.
Improving Student Literacy Earlier this session, Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz introduced a package of four bills aimed at enhancing reading literacy of young learners. All four bills were posted for committee consideration by the Senate Education Committee last Thursday. Three of the bills were combined into one bill, while another that would have established an office charged with addressing learning loss was significantly amended.
The combined legislation (S-2644/S-2645/S-2646) requires the New Jersey Department of Education to establish a working group on student literacy, mandates universal literacy screenings for young students and requires professional development for certain school district employees.
Key aspects of the legislation follow below:
- Establishes a Working Group on Student Literacy to provide recommendations to the NJDOE regarding implementation of evidence-based literacy strategies, appropriate and reliable instruments for universal literacy screening, and high-quality literacy instructional materials. Following review of the recommendations, the NJDOE will develop and publish guidance for use by school districts beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
- Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each school district will be required to conduct literacy screenings for every student in kindergarten through grade three at least twice annually to determine their reading proficiency. Following such screening, districts will provide students with any necessary supports, consistent with each district’s intervention and referral services. (Note: The fiscal year 2025 proposed state budget includes $2.5 million for literacy screenings. However, in light of this legislation, additional funding may be added before the final budget is approved.)
- Districts will notify parents of the results of the required literacy screening along with information concerning the range of supports available to assist the student in meeting grade-level proficiency goals.
- The NJDOE will establish an online resource center to aid districts in the selection of evidence-based, high-quality instructional materials as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in English Language Arts.
- By July 2025, the NJDOE will also establish a professional development program regarding evidence-based foundational literacy instruction, which will be available to all school districts at no cost. School districts will use this professional development program, or any other similar evidence-based literacy instructional material, to annually provide professional development to various categories of staff members, such as teachers and library media specialists serving preschool through grade six and those serving multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Districts will also provide training to school administrators on the design and implementation of high-quality literacy instruction.
The second bill, S-2647, originally would have established an independent Office of the Learning Loss Czar outside of the supervision or control of the NJDOE. It would have been provided with the duty to analyze and address learning loss. The bill will now create the Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery within the department. This office will “promote student literacy and advance learning equity through academic recovery practices.” The office is charged with the following duties:
- Improving the capacity of the NJDOE to make data-driven decisions regarding literacy and learning equity policies.
- Coordinating resources within the NJDOE to promote the implementation of effective literacy and learning acceleration policies.
- Conducting research on best practices in the areas of literacy, learning equity and learning acceleration.
- Supporting school districts in developing and implementing best practices.
- Supporting the NJDOE in seeking out funding, professional development and other policy supports that promote literacy and learning equity.
The NJSBA supported both measures. Over the last few months, the NJSBA participated in a working group, convened by Ruiz, which reviewed the package as introduced and collaborated in the development of both pieces of legislation. While supportive of the goals of the legislation, the NJSBA is advocating for necessary funding and resources to ease implementation of the bills’ provisions. A joint statement submitted by the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, the New Jersey Education Association, the Garden State Coalition of Schools, and the NJSBA can be found here.
Following approval by the Senate Education Committee this past Thursday, the measures were also advanced by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday. The Assembly Appropriations advanced the Assembly versions (A-4303/A-4304/A-4308 and A-2288) on Monday as well. They are all now primed for floor votes in both houses.
Labor Movement Instruction S-1054 requires boards of education to include instruction on United States and New Jersey labor history and the contributions of the labor movement. This instruction would be provided in an appropriate place in the curriculum for students in grades six through 12 as part of a district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in social studies. Specifically, the instruction must include, at a minimum, the history of organized labor; notable strikes throughout history; unionization drives; and the collective bargaining process and existing legal protections in the workplace.
The NJSBA expressed concerns with the bill and urged the Legislature to exercise caution and restraint before adding to the growing list of statutory instructional mandates. In testimony, the Association argued that local education boards, the NJDOE and the New Jersey State Board of Education, rather than the Legislature, should maintain authority over what subject areas students must learn when and at what stage of their education. The NJSBA also pointed out that the spirit of the bill is already captured in various areas of the NJSLS, rendering it unnecessary. A copy of the NJSBA’s testimony on the bill can be found here.
Purchasing E-Buses and Expanding ACES Program S-3263 authorizes a board of education to enter into extended contracts and lease terms for electric school buses. The bill also permits the NJSBA to serve as a government aggregator to obtain energy services for local units.
Under current law, a school district may enter into a contract for the leasing of school buses for a term not exceeding 10 years. The bill provides that a school district may enter into a contract for the leasing of electric school buses and related charging equipment and services for a term not in excess of the service life of the vehicle. The bill similarly amends existing law to extend the terms of a lease purchase agreement for electric school buses.
S-3263 also amends current law to provide that the NJSBA may serve as a government aggregator to obtain electric school buses and related goods and services. That law already permits the NJSBA to serve as a government aggregator for the procurement of electric and natural gas services for its members. In 1999, the NJSBA established the Alliance for Competitive Energy Services program pursuant to that authority, and the program has generated significant financial savings for participating districts. At the request of the NJSBA, the bill was amended to allow counties, municipalities and other local contracting units to voluntarily participate in the program, which should serve to generate even greater economic benefits.
The NJSBA supports the bill. The bill’s lower house counterpart, A-1677, has also passed through committee. Both measures may now be posted for floor votes.
Tax Deduction for Classroom Supplies S-2378/A-3416 would allow educators to deduct from their gross income for the taxable year up to $250 in unreimbursed expenses for the purchase of classroom supplies. K-12 teachers, counselors, speech language specialists, principals and aides that provide at least 900 hours of service in a public or private school would be eligible. The NJSBA supports the bill.
S-2378 was advanced by the Senate Education Committee and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee for further consideration. The Assembly Appropriations Committee approved A-3416 on Monday and it can now be posted for a floor vote.
Compulsory School Attendance S-2970 lowers the age requirement of compulsory school attendance from 6 to 5 years old. At the committee hearing, the NJSBA supported the intent of the bill. The NJSBA also raised some concerns about funding and the impact on facilities. Specifically, the NJSBA urged the committee to identify the number of 5-year olds that were not currently receiving any formal schooling, so that districts would then have a better understanding of the potential impact of this bill on district facility and staffing needs. The bill was approved by the Senate Education Committee and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Its Assembly companion, A-4442, has not moved to date.
Pension Boost for Extracurriculars A-3323 requires pay for extracurricular activities to be included in compensation for a teacher’s pension (i.e., TPAF) purposes. Such extra pay is not included in the current pension compensation definition. Under the bill, extracurricular duties include preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays and club activities. The NJSBA is monitoring the bill, which was approved by both the Assembly State and Local Government and Assembly Appropriations Committees on Monday.
Second Questions at Special Elections A-4084/S-2837 authorizes school districts to submit separate proposals for additional spending for the subsequent budget year at a special school election. Under current law, a school district may submit to the voters at the annual school election, a separate question or proposal for permission to raise additional funds for the budget year beyond the district’s authorized tax levy. This bill would allow districts to submit proposals to voters at a special school election to raise such additional funds for the subsequent school budget year. Special school elections may occur in January, March, September and December. A separate proposal or proposals may only be submitted on a date of a special election once during a school year. The NJSBA supports the bill. The legislation has already passed the full Senate and, following Monday’s approval by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, may now be posted for a final vote in the Assembly.
Water Quality Notifications A-1400 requires the owner or operator of a public water system to immediately notify the governing body of a municipality and the chief administrator of every school located within the municipality whenever the public water system violates any drinking water quality standard. The bill also requires the owner or operator of the public water system to provide information on suggested remedies that a customer may take to address the violation. The NJSBA supports the bill, which now heads to the Assembly floor. The bill has not yet moved in the Senate.
TPAF Reenrollment Changes A-1675 extends the length of time a member of the teachers’ pension system (Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund, or TPAF) can discontinue their service and still maintain their membership in the system. Under current law, membership in the TPAF ceases if an individual discontinues service for more than two years. This bill extends the period of discontinuance to ten years. The bill also extends the length of time a member who left service for certain qualifying reasons (e.g., due to a reduction in force) may return to service and includes among the qualifying reasons those who voluntarily left service with 10 or more years of service credit. Under current law, membership in the TPAF may continue if such a member returns to service within a period of 10 years from the date of discontinuance from service. This bill extends the period of discontinuance to 15 years. Members who return to service under the terms of this bill will be placed in the member’s pension tier at the time of their original termination of service.
The NJSBA is monitoring the bill. The legislation would have no direct impact on school district finances, as the state pays the employer share of TPAF costs on behalf of boards of education. The bill was approved by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Monday and heads to the floor. Its Senate counterpart has not yet moved.
Work Readiness Training Incentives A-2369, entitled the “New Jersey Works Act,” would incentivize businesses to establish pre-employment and work readiness training programs together with certain types of educational institutions or with nonprofit organizations. Under the bill, a business may receive a credit against the corporation business tax or gross income tax for 100% of the financial assistance provided to support a qualified pre-employment and work readiness training program approved by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The bill would authorize the award of tax credits to taxpayers that have established an approved pre-employment and work readiness training program with an institution of higher education, a comprehensive high school, a vocational school, or a nonprofit organization. The NJSBA supports the bill, which was approved by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and now heads to the floor. Its Senate counterpart was advanced by committee earlier this year and sits in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Nonpublic Transportation Notification Deadline A-2942 bill would change the date by which a school district is required to notify the parent or guardian of a nonpublic school student and the nonpublic school of the district’s determination on the manner in which transportation services will be provided to the pupil. Currently, this notification is to occur by Aug. 1 prior to the beginning of the school year. The bill changes the date to July 15 (an earlier version of the bill set the deadline on July 1). The bill also amends a section of law that concerns the use of cooperative transportation services for the provision of pupil transportation and refers to the Aug. 1 date.
The NJSBA opposes the legislation. Currently, districts must already abide by a very tight schedule when deciding whether students will be provided transportation services or aid-in-lieu of transportation payments. There are various factors and steps that must be considered and accomplished before deciding how to accommodate nonpublic school students eligible for transportation. This bill will make the process even more difficult to manage. The bill may now be posted for an Assembly floor vote. No Senate version has been introduced to date.
November Separate Proposals for Future Years A-2784/S-2548 would allow a school district that has moved its annual school election to November to submit to voters a separate proposal for additional funds beyond the district’s authorized tax levy cap to support a particular program or purpose for the budget year, or a separate proposal for additional funds for the subsequent budget year, or separate proposals for additional funds for each of those budget years. Current law provides that a school district may submit to the voters at the annual school election a separate question or proposal for permission to raise additional funds for the current budget year. The bill stipulates that if a November district submits a separate question for additional funds for the subsequent budget year and the separate question is approved, the school district may not increase its tax levy for that subsequent budget year by the amount of any “banked” tax levy that the district may have at its disposal under the cap banking provisions of the law. The NJSBA supports the bill.
After receiving approval of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday, the bill may now be posted for a final vote. A-2784 has already passed the full Assembly.
Compensation Transparency S-2310/A-4151 requires all New Jersey employers to make reasonable efforts to announce, post, or otherwise make known opportunities for promotion that are advertised internally or externally on internet-based advertisements, postings, printed flyers, or other similar advertisements to all current employees in the affected department or departments of the employer’s business prior to making a promotion decision. The bill also requires employers to disclose in each posting for new jobs and transfer opportunities that are advertised by the employer either externally or internally the hourly wage or salary, or a range of the hourly wage or salary, and a general description of benefits and other compensation programs for which the employee would be eligible. The legislation also establishes penalties for noncompliance. The NJSBA is monitoring the bill. After receiving approval by the Assembly Regulated Professions and Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees on Monday, both bills may now be posted for floor votes in their respective houses.
To view the full text of any of the bills summarized above, please visit the New Jersey Legislature’s website.