Bill > A883

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the four-year "New Jersey Early Innovation Inspiration School Grant Pilot Program" in the Department of Education. Under the pilot program, grants will be awarded to school districts to: cultivate interest in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields at an early age; support non-traditional STEM teaching methods for students in grades kindergarten through 8; promote innovation and broaden interest in careers in STEM fields by investing in programs supported by teachers and professional mentors; and encourage collaboration among students, engineers, and other professional mentors. Under the bill, a school district must submit to the Commissioner of Education an application that includes a description of how the school district will: implement STEM teaching programs for students in grades kindergarten through 8; identify and recruit partners and mentors to help implement these programs, and to assist students who participate in STEM programs; support teachers who lead the STEM programs; recruit young women and students from other populations historically underrepresented in the STEM fields to participate in the programs; identify public and private partners that can support the programs; develop a plan for sustaining the programs; and develop a method to assess the impact of the STEM teaching programs on participating students. Under the pilot program, the commissioner will award a total of six, one-time, up-front grants of up to $150,000 each. In awarding the grants, the commissioner will give priority to applications from districts that intend to target activities in a rural or urban school, a low-performing school, or a school or school district that serves low-income students. The districts will be permitted to use the grant funds for a period of up to four years. A school district that receives a grant may use the funds to: promote STEM education and career activities; purchase supplies needed to support participation in non-traditional STEM teaching programs; provide incentives and stipends for teachers involved in non-traditional STEM teaching methods outside of their regular teaching duties; provide support and finance the expenses of student participation in regional and national nonprofit STEM competitions; finance items such as equipment, facility use, technology, broadband access, and other expenses, directly associated with non-traditional STEM teaching and mentoring; and carry out other activities that are related to the goals of the pilot program. The bill establishes the "Early Innovation Inspiration School Grant Fund" within the Department of Education to provide grants to school districts under the pilot program. A school district that receives a grant is required to provide district matching funds in an amount equal to 25% of the grant amount. In addition, the district must secure matching funds or in-kind contributions from corporate donors or other private sector donors in an amount equal to 25% of the grant amount.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)*,  Michael Venezia (D)*,  Gabriel Rodriguez (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document