Bill > S2049

Introduced Session

This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a school district regionalization pilot program. The purpose of the program is to study the feasibility of establishing a grade K-12 all purpose regional school district through the consolidation of an existing grade 9-12 limited purpose regional school district and the grade K-8 school districts of its constituent municipalities. The pilot program will consist of a one-year Phase I planning stage, a five-year Phase II implementation stage, and an Evaluation Component. The bill directs the commissioner to select three pilot sites to participate in the program, including one in a northern, central and southern region of the State. Under the bill, if a board of education of a grade 9-12 limited purpose regional school district and the boards of education of the grade K-8 school districts of its constituent municipalities determine to participate in the pilot program, the boards must jointly submit an application to the commissioner. The bill requires that selected school districts conduct a feasibility study to determine the educational and financial impact of forming a grade K-12 regional school district. The districts may apply to the commissioner for a planning grant in an amount not to exceed $50,000 to cover costs associated with its participation in the pilot program including, but not limited to, the collection of data, public relations activities, and the organization of public meetings. In addition to the planning grant, any costs associated with the feasibility study will be paid by the State. The commissioner may extend the Phase I planning stage through a second year if he determines it to be advisable. The bill specifies that the voters of each constituent municipality of the proposed grade K-12 regional school district must approve the participation in the Phase II implementation stage. The commissioner will provide incentive State aid to school districts that participate in the Phase II implementation stage in an amount as is necessary to equalize the apportionment of costs of the grade K-12 regional school district among the constituent municipalities and to support the initial costs associated with regionalization. Incentive State aid will be provided for each of the five years of the Phase II implementation stage. The bill also directs the commissioner to appoint an independent evaluator to work in each of the pilot sites to design and implement the evaluation of that site. The design would address issues such as the impact of the establishment of a grade K-12 regional school district on student achievement, school district finances, parent and student satisfaction with educational programs and athletic and other extra-curricular school programs, staffing, facilities, and governance.

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Vince Polistina (R)*, 

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

Official Document