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Bill

Bill

A 4911

Establishes protections for immigrant students and their families.

2026-2027 Regular Session

Prohibits immigration status discrimination and ensures immigrant students have equal access to enrollment, services, and activities in public schools.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 4911

Summary of New Jersey Assembly Bill A-4911 (Session 222)

Title

Establishes protections for immigrant students and their families.

Purpose and intent

A-4911 is intended to safeguard the rights, access to education, and well-being of immigrant students and their household members. The bill aims to reduce barriers to schooling, ensure non-discriminatory treatment in educational settings, and provide protections related to student privacy, family stability, and access to essential services.

Key provisions and changes

  • Education access and non-discrimination

    • Prohibits discrimination in public schools on the basis of immigration status.
    • Requires school districts to ensure that immigrant students have equal access to enrollment, participation, and educational opportunities as other students.
    • Clarifies that participation in school activities and the receipt of educational services should not be conditioned on immigration status.

  • Privacy and information sharing

    • Defines guidelines around what information schools may collect and under what circumstances immigration status may be requested.
    • Limits the sharing of a student’s immigration status with external entities, except where legally required or necessary to protect student safety.

  • Support services and resources

    • Encourages or requires districts to provide access to translation and interpretation services, as needed, to support families and students.
    • Promotes awareness and accessibility of available school-based and community resources (e.g., counseling, social services).

  • Family protections and stability

    • Addresses protections for families, aiming to minimize the risk that participation in school activities or school enrollment could expose family members to adverse immigration-related consequences.
    • May include provisions related to parental access to student records and the handling of information to protect family privacy.

  • Reporting and accountability

    • Establishes mechanisms for monitoring compliance by school districts.
    • May require annual or periodic reporting on measures related to immigrant student access, protections, and privacy.

  • Implementation and effective date

    • Sets an effective date or phased implementation timeline for districts to adopt new procedures and training.
    • Provides guidance to school districts on compliance, including potential training for staff and administrators on immigrant student rights and privacy protections.

Who is affected

  • Immigrant students and their families attending New Jersey public schools.
  • Public school districts and charter schools responsible for enrollment, student services, and compliance with privacy rules.
  • School staff and administrators who will implement anti-discrimination policies, privacy safeguards, and access to translation/interpretation services.
  • Community organizations and service providers that partner with schools to deliver resources to immigrant families.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill outlines compliance requirements for school districts, including potential reporting obligations.
  • It may establish a transition period for districts to update policies, train staff, and implement privacy protections.
  • The specifics of enforcement mechanisms (e.g., penalties for non-compliance) and the exact reporting cadence are to be defined in statutory language or accompanying regulations.

Potential impact

  • Increases in equitable access to education for immigrant students.
  • Strengthened privacy protections regarding immigration status within the school setting.
  • Improved communication and support for immigrant families through translation services and resource access.
  • Enhanced oversight to ensure districts uphold anti-discrimination and privacy standards.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to include any known fiscal impact, committee actions, or the bill’s current status (e.g., which committees it passed, sponsor information, or amendments).

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

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