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Bill

Bill

A 3056

Establishes New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Carter and 9 co-sponsors

New Jersey establishes a state scholarship program (up to $7,200 per full-time clinical practice semester, max two) to reduce financial barriers for teacher candidates in high-dema

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
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Bill Summary · A 3056

Overview

Bill A 3056 (Session 222, New Jersey) establishes the New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program within the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), in coordination with the Department of Education. The program aims to reduce financial barriers to teacher certification by providing scholarships to eligible students who complete required clinical practice in New Jersey schools.

Purpose and intent

  • To lessen financial obstacles for individuals pursuing teacher certification.
  • To incentivize and support completion of required clinical practice for candidates in high-demand subject areas.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment and administration

    • Creates the New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program within HESAA.
    • HESAA will administer the scholarships in coordination with the Department of Education.

  • Scholarship details

    • A scholarship of up to $7,200 per semester of full-time clinical practice completed in a New Jersey school.
    • The executive director of HESAA may adjust the maximum award to include a cost-of-living adjustment.
    • A student may receive scholarships for a maximum of two academic semesters of full-time clinical practice.

  • Eligibility and requirements

    • Eligible student must be a resident of New Jersey.
    • Eligible student must be enrolled full-time in an approved program of study (undergraduate leading to a bachelor’s degree, post-baccalaureate, or graduate program toward a master’s degree offered by a New Jersey institution).
    • Eligible student must complete steps required by the approved program to be eligible for clinical practice.
    • The authority (with the Department of Education) may establish additional eligibility requirements and minimum qualifications, including prioritization for degrees in math, science, special education, world languages, bilingual education, or other high-demand subjects as identified by the department.
    • Scholarship eligibility is contingent on maintaining good academic standing and meeting established qualifications.
    • The scholarship can be terminated for: academic or disciplinary dismissal from the institution/program, disqualification from employment due to criminal history findings, or ineligibility to receive a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing from the State Board of Examiners.
    • If a student withdraws due to illness or family emergency, the scholarship is terminated but no repayment is required for amounts already received.

  • Program operations and timeline

    • Within 90 days of enactment, HESAA must establish an application process.
    • The application must be available by the first day of the fourth month following enactment, and applications should begin being approved thereafter.

  • Evaluation and accountability

    • HESAA, in coordination with the Department of Education, must annually collect data to assess program effectiveness, including:
    • Total number of participants (disaggregated by certificate type).
    • Participant surveys regarding program experience.
    • Demographic data (race, ethnicity, gender).

  • Compliance and funding

    • Nothing in the act exempts participants from meeting standard educator certification requirements.
    • The Legislature must annually appropriate necessary General Fund amounts to HESAA to fund the program.

  • Effective date

    • The act takes effect immediately and first applies to the first full academic year after enactment.

Who is affected

  • Eligible students who are New Jersey residents enrolled full-time in an approved pathway toward teacher certification.
  • Institutions of higher education in New Jersey offering approved programs of study.
  • School districts and employers who hire certified teachers (indirectly impacted through increased numbers of certified teachers entering the field).

Potential impact

  • Increased financial support for teacher candidates during crucial clinical practice, potentially boosting retention and certification rates.
  • Encouragement for students in high-demand subject areas to pursue teaching careers in New Jersey.
  • Data collection will provide insight into program reach, demographics, and outcomes to inform future policy decisions.

If you’d like, I can tailor this to a one-page brief or compare it to similar scholarship programs in other states.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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