STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator ROBERT W. SINGER
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Requires students to complete free application for federal student aid as part of high school graduation requirements or request an exemption.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning graduation requirements for high school students and supplementing P.L.1979, c.241 (C.18A:7C-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Beginning with the grade eleven class of the first full school year following the date of enactment of this act, the State Board of Education shall require that the local graduation requirements adopted by a board of education include the requirement that a student complete and submit a free application for federal student aid. A student shall be exempt from the graduation requirement if the student submits to the school district a form signed by the parent or guardian, or by the student if the student is at least 18 years of age, requesting the exemption.
b. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, shall publish a list of resources for school districts, parents, and students that include instructions on how to complete a free application for federal student aid.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply in the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires that local graduation requirements adopted by boards of education will include a requirement that students complete and submit the free application for federal student aid, generally referred to as the FAFSA, beginning with the grade eleven class of the first full school year following the date of enactment of the bill. Students will be exempted from the requirement if a parent or guardian, or the student if the student is at least 18 years of age, signs and submits a form requesting the exemption.
The bill also requires that the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Executive Director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, publish a list of resources for school districts, parents and students, including instructions on how to complete and submit the FAFSA.