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Bill

A 5385

Establishes two-generational school readiness and workforce development pilot program for certain low-income households.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Carter and 1 co-sponsor

Establish a two-generational pilot in New Jersey that improves early childhood readiness for children while boosting parental workforce participation in low-income households.

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Bill Summary · A 5385

Overview

Bill A-5385 (Session 222, New Jersey) establishes a two-generational school readiness and workforce development pilot program targeting certain low-income households. The bill is co-sponsored by Assembly Members Linda Carter and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. The core aim is to improve early childhood readiness while simultaneously supporting parental workforce participation through coordinated services and funding.

Purpose and intent

  • Create a pilot program to deliver integrated supports that address both early education for children and job-readiness or employment outcomes for parents.
  • Focus on low-income households to reduce barriers to school readiness and long-term economic stability.
  • Test a two-generational approach that connects child developmental needs with parental workforce development activities.

Key provisions and program design

  • Establishment of a pilot program (specific administering agency to be determined in the text) to operate in designated jurisdictions or districts within New Jersey.
  • Eligibility criteria: limited to low-income households meeting defined income thresholds (exact figures to be specified in the bill or implementing regulations).
  • Services for children: high-quality early childhood education/school readiness activities, developmental assessments, and age-appropriate curricula designed to prepare children for kindergarten and ongoing learning.
  • Services for adults (parents/c caregivers): workforce development components, which may include job training, career coaching, job placement assistance, and potential subsidies for education or training opportunities.
  • Integrated service delivery: coordination between early childhood providers and workforce development entities to align goals, timelines, and outcomes for both generations.
  • Performance metrics: benchmarks to evaluate both child readiness indicators and parental employment or earnings outcomes, with data collection provisions to assess program effectiveness.
  • Funding mechanics: appropriation or grant structure to support pilot activities, including potential matching funds, reporting requirements, and oversight.

Who is affected

  • Eligible low-income families with young children eligible for school readiness services.
  • Participating child care centers, early education providers, and partner workforce development organizations.
  • Local governments or school districts where the pilot operates.
  • Families served by the pilot could experience improvements in child readiness as well as increased parental employment opportunities or earnings.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Implementation timeline: the bill would authorize the creation of the pilot and set reporting milestones; specifics (start date, duration, renewal or expansion procedures) are defined within the bill or by implementing regulations.
  • Oversight and reporting: establishes accountability through periodic reports to the Legislature, including outcomes related to child development milestones and parental workforce metrics.
  • Evaluation: likely requires an independent or designated evaluator to assess effectiveness and inform potential program expansion or policy decisions beyond the pilot.
  • Sunset and scalability: the pilot may include a sunset clause or evaluation framework to determine scalability to a broader program if successful.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Positive outcomes anticipated: improved school readiness for children and enhanced employment outcomes for parents, contributing to household stability.
  • Implementation considerations: requires coordination across agencies, capacity in early education providers, and alignment of funding streams.
  • Equity focus: targeted to low-income households, aiming to reduce disparities in early education access and economic opportunity.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to include exact statutory language once it’s available or align it with accompanying fiscal notes, timelines, and anticipated funding levels.

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

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