Bill > S2976

Introduced Session

This bill directs the Commissioner of Education, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, to establish a "New Jersey Works Dual Enrollment Option Program." The purpose of the program is to provide an alternate education option for recent high school dropouts and students who have been identified as at-risk of dropping out of school prior to high school graduation, and to provide these students with job placement assistance. Under the program, an at-risk student may complete his high school graduation requirements through coursework at a county college. The credits earned at the county college will be applicable to both the student's high school diploma and towards a credential, certificate, or degree offered by the county college. Finally, upon a student's successful completion of the program, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development must provide the student with job placement services. The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to develop and distribute to each school district a list of risk factors that can be used to identify high school students who are at high risk of dropping out of school prior to high school graduation. The bill also directs the commissioner to provide guidance to school districts on which career, technical, and academic courses of county colleges may be applied as dual credit courses under the program to satisfy high school graduation requirements. Under the program, the board of education of a school district and the board of trustees of a county college may enter into an agreement to provide for the education of at-risk students under the program. The bill provides that a student enrolled in the "New Jersey Works Dual Enrollment Option Program," and his parent or legal guardian, cannot be held responsible for payment of tuition, student fees, or any other costs of the program. A student enrolled in the program will be included in the district's resident enrollment and the district will receive State aid for that student as provided under the State school funding law, P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.).

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Joe Lagana (D)*,  Mike Testa (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 03/18/2024)

Official Document