Bill

Bill > A370


NJ A370

NJ A370
Requires development of guidance and training to address social media in harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools; revises student learning standards to include instruction on social media in school bullying.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires the development of guidance and training to address social media in harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools and requires that certain student learning standards be revised to include instruction on social media in school bullying. The bill requires that the training on harassment, intimidation, and bullying that school districts are required to provide to school employees and certain volunteers includes instruction on bullying though the use of social media. The bill also requires certain workshops and training programs established by the Commissioner of Education to train anti-bullying coordinators and anti-bullying specialists include information on the use of social media in incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. The bill directs the School Climate State Coordinator to establish an online portal with content and links to additional resources on the use of social media, its impact on sense of self and peer-to-peer relationships, and its role in harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Under the bill, the State Board of Education is directed to review and update the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies and Career Readiness, Life Literacies, and Key Skills to ensure the incorporation of instruction on social media and digital citizenship. In its review, the State board is to consult with experts on student mental health, media consumption, digital privacy and identity, cyberbullying, cyber conflict, and hate speech. The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop a guidance document for use by school districts in navigating the role and impact of social media in incidents of student harassment, intimidation, and bullying. In developing the document, the commissioner is to consider the findings of the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force and the Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents. The guidance document is to be updated annually and be made available on the Department of Education's Internet site and on every school district's Internet site at an easily accessible location. This bill implements certain recommendations of the report from the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force, dated December 28, 2023.

AI Summary

This bill mandates the development of guidance and training to address the use of social media in instances of harassment, intimidation, and bullying within schools, and revises student learning standards to include instruction on this topic. Specifically, it requires that training provided to school employees and volunteers on bullying prevention includes instruction on social media-based bullying, and that workshops for anti-bullying coordinators and specialists also cover this issue. The School Climate State Coordinator will establish an online portal with resources on social media's impact on students and its role in bullying. Furthermore, the State Board of Education will update learning standards in Social Studies and Career Readiness to incorporate digital citizenship and social media instruction, consulting with experts in relevant fields. The Commissioner of Education will create an annually updated guidance document for school districts on navigating social media-related bullying, considering findings from relevant task forces and commissions. This bill implements recommendations from the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 01/13/2026)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...