Bill > S2217

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the "Summer Earn and Learn Pilot Program" in the Department of Education. The purpose of the pilot program is to ensure that school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools have the ability to provide students access to supplemental learning assistance and paid career-building employment opportunities. Under the bill, the Department of Education (DOE), in consultation with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) will develop, and distribute to each school district, charter school, and renaissance school in the State, program guidelines that include, but are not limited to: (1) a student application procedure; (2) the subject matter to be included as part of the supplemental learning assistance; (3) the type of work that may be performed as part of a career-building employment opportunity; (4) the agencies and entities with which a student may engage in career-building employment opportunities; (5) career-building employment opportunity related performance standards; and (6) total stipend amounts. The bill requires the DOE, in consultation with the DOLWD, to establish partnerships with private and governmental agencies and entities in order to assist students in obtaining career-building employment opportunities. The DOE will establish and maintain a list of these partnerships, which list will be posted on the DOE's and DOLWD's Internet websites. A student can obtain a career-building employment opportunity with an agency or entity not contained on the list, but is required to obtain the approval of the principal or other chief administrative officer of the school in which the student is enrolled prior to beginning any work with such an agency or entity. Under the bill, a school district, charter school, or renaissance school that wishes to participate in the pilot program must submit documentation to the DOE alerting the department of the school district's, charter school's, or renaissance school's intent to participate in the pilot program. To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, a student must: (1) be a resident of New Jersey, (2) have reached the minimum age for employment under the laws of the State, and (3) be enrolled in a school district, charter school, or renaissance school in the State. The bill requires, to the extent permitted by federal law, that the stipends provided pursuant to the provisions of the bill be paid from monies received by the State or a school district, under the federal "Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act," the federal "Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, 2021," the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act," or any other federal funding provided to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as it becomes available. Under the bill, two years following the implementation of the pilot program, the Commissioner of Education must submit a report to the Governor and to the Legislature on the implementation of the pilot program and include information on the commissioner's recommendation as to the advisability of continuing or expanding the program. The bill provides that a school district, charter school, or renaissance school that offers supplemental learning assistance to students during summer vacation pursuant to the provisions of the bill is not considered in-session for purposes of certain areas of current law governing child labor. The bill also provides that, for a student required to obtain an employment certificate, age certificate, or special permit in order to obtain employment in the State, the issuing officer of a school district may, for purposes of participation in the pilot program established under the bill, issue the employment certificate, age certificate, or special permit to a student or parent, as applicable, when the documentation needed for such a certificate or permit is submitted through the mail or electronically.

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Teresa Ruiz (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document