Bill
A 1596
Creates a four-year pilot letting eligible students 16+ with disabilities take college or postsecondary courses during high school, with districts paying tuition.
Overview
- A-1596 introduces a four-year pilot program to expand postsecondary opportunities for high school students aged 16 or older who are eligible for special education. The program allows participating students to take college courses or engage in postsecondary vocational training while still enrolled in high school, with districts covering tuition costs.
Main purpose and intent
- Increase access to higher education and career-technical opportunities for students with disabilities.
- Align transition planning in a student’s IEP with concrete postsecondary experiences, helping students prepare for their future goals.
Key provisions
1) Establishment and participation
- The Commissioner of Education shall create a four-year pilot program for eligible students aged 16+ as part of transition services in the IEP.
- Districts may partner with county colleges, other higher education institutions, and county vocational schools to offer courses/programs.
- Districts should, to the extent feasible and desired by the student, include opportunities to attend college courses or participate in postsecondary vocational training in the student’s transition services.
- The Commissioner shall select up to 15 school districts to participate, ensuring regional and urban/suburban/rural diversity.
2) District responsibilities and costs
- Participating districts must bear the tuition costs for students with disabilities who attend college courses or participate in postsecondary programs under the pilot.
- Districts must submit a proposal to the Commissioner outlining anticipated participation, partner institutions, funding plans, and other prescribed information.
3) Reporting and evaluation
- At the end of the pilot, each participating district must report to the Commissioner with data on participants, courses/programs attended, student feedback, and perceived benefits.
- After reviewing district reports, the Commissioner will submit a statewide report to the Governor and Legislature evaluating implementation and effectiveness and recommending whether to continue or expand the program.
Implementation and timeline
- Effective date: immediate upon enactment.
- The bill envisions a four-year pilot ending period, followed by statewide reporting and potential expansion.
Who is affected
- Students: Age 16 and older, eligible for special education, who would participate in college courses or postsecondary training while still in high school.
- School districts: Responsible for proposing and managing participation, and for tuition funding during the pilot.
- Institutions: County colleges, four-year institutions, and county vocational schools that partner to offer courses/TR programs.
Fiscal note
- The bill requires districts to cover tuition for participating students; it does not specify state funding or reimbursement mechanisms within the text provided.
Relationship to existing framework
- Builds on existing IEP transition service requirements (as currently outlined in regulations like N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7(e)12) by turning transition opportunities into actual postsecondary course participation during high school.
Legislative history
- Sponsor: Assembly member John K. Mikulin (primary).
- Introduced: January 9, 2024.
- Status: HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN JUDICIARY (as of May 20, 2025; duplicate status entries observed).
Related bills (prior-session references)
- A-3430, A-4423, A-6439, A-10700, A-5705, A-4727, A-4249
Notes
- The accompanying “Title” line in the bill information appears inconsistent with the introduced content (the introduced version concerns postsecondary planning for students with disabilities, not orders of protection). The summary above reflects the provided Introduced Version content.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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