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Bill

A 3124

Establishes Office of Community Schools; appropriates $10 million.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Craig Coughlin and 1 co-sponsor

New Jersey establishes an Office of Community Schools with $10 million to integrate academic and wraparound support services in schools.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
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Bill Summary · A 3124

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 3124 creates a new Office of Community Schools within New Jersey's Department of Education and appropriates $10 million in funding for its operations and initiatives. Community schools typically function as hubs that integrate educational services with wraparound support services like health care, mental health counseling, food assistance, and family engagement programs, operating before and after traditional school hours.

Why is this important

Community schools aim to address barriers to student learning by providing comprehensive support services that extend beyond academics, potentially improving attendance, academic performance, and overall student well-being. The $10 million appropriation represents a state commitment to scaling this model across New Jersey districts, though implementation costs and effectiveness will depend heavily on how funds are allocated and which schools participate.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding adequacy: Whether $10 million is sufficient to establish meaningful programming across multiple school districts, or if it stretches resources too thin
  • Administrative overhead: Questions about how much funding goes to the new office's bureaucracy versus direct services in schools
  • Implementation details: The bill does not specify which schools will participate, selection criteria, or how the office will coordinate with existing district programs and services
  • Long-term sustainability: Uncertainty about whether this represents ongoing annual funding or a one-time appropriation, affecting program stability

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

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