Requires principals and teachers of public schools to conduct two sentence oral recitation from Declaration of Independence before opening of school each day in grades three through 12; appropriates $10,000.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Holzapfel

Requires daily recitation of a Declaration excerpt by 3–12 graders, plus a curriculum on its meaning and history, with exemptions and a $10,000 funding note.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee

Summary of Bill S 4336 (New Jersey, 222nd Session)

Purpose and intent

The bill, titled the “America – Celebrating 250 Years Act,” requires public school principals and teachers to conduct an oral recitation from the Declaration of Independence before the opening of each school day for students in grades 3 through 12.

It frames the recital as a daily observance following the pledge of allegiance and before the start of instructional activities.

Key provisions and changes

Section 3: Daily oral recitation

Mandates that principals and teachers in grades 3–12 recite the following excerpt each school day: > “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”

Section 4: Curriculum requirement

Each local board of education must establish an age-appropriate curriculum that explains the meaning and importance of the recitation in its historical context.
The curriculum should connect the ideas to major milestones in American history (American Revolution, abolition of slavery, drafting and amendments to the Constitution, women’s suffrage, civil rights movement, etc.).

Section 5: Implementation and exemptions

Boards determine how to implement the requirement.
Exempts students with conscientious scruples against the recitation and children of accredited foreign government representatives with diplomatic immunity.

Section 6: Appropriation and notice

A $10,000 General Fund appropriation to the Department of Education to prepare and distribute notices to boards of education.
Notices must include the full text of the Declaration of Independence with the quoted excerpt in bold.
The department must ensure sufficient copies are available on request after the initial distribution.

Section 7: Effective date

The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who and what is affected

Students: Grades 3–12 in public elementary and secondary schools.

School personnel: Principals and teachers in public schools responsible for daily recitations.

Local boards of education: Responsible for implementing the recital and the accompanying historical curriculum.

Department of Education: Receives and disseminates notices and the text of the Declaration; administration funded by the $10,000 appropriation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Effective immediately upon enactment.

Initial distribution of notices and bolded text to boards of education funded by a one-time $10,000 appropriation, with ongoing availability of notices upon request.

Contextual notes

The bill supplements existing patriotic observances (e.g., pledge of allegiance, patriotic exercises near certain holidays) by adding a daily historical recitation.

It emphasizes historical education around core democratic and constitutional principles and their development in American history.