Establishes three-year pilot program in DOE to provide certain students with information and assistance regarding federal financial aid application.

A4319

ASSEMBLY, No. 4319

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes three-year pilot program in DOE to
provide certain students with information and assistance regarding federal
financial aid application.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
establishing a pilot program to provide guidance to
students applying for federal financial aid.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� The Commissioner of
Education, in coordination with the Higher Education Student Assistance
Authority, shall establish a three-year pilot program to provide public school
students with information on and assistance in the proper completion and submission
of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).� The goal of the pilot
program shall be to ensure that each student enrolled in grade 12 has the
opportunity and instruction necessary to apply for federal financial aid.

���� b.��� A school district that
wants to participate in the program shall submit a proposal to the commissioner
detailing its commitment to training staff or community volunteers on the
proper completion and submission of the FAFSA and providing class time to students
for instruction on how to complete the FAFSA with their parents or guardians.�
The proposal shall also indicate whether the district intends to offer any
additional events, workshops, or other programming for the parents and
guardians of students on FAFSA completion and submission.

���� c.���� The commissioner shall
select four districts in each of the southern, central, and northern regions of
the State to participate in the program and shall seek a cross section of
school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State.

���� 2.��� a.� The board of
education of a participating school district shall ensure that each student
receives information at least once before the student enters grade 12 on how to
properly complete and submit the FAFSA. Information may be disseminated through
classroom instruction during regular school hours.� Information may also be
provided through an existing school program, family information sessions, or
group or individual sessions with school counselors.� The information provided
shall include, but shall not be limited to, material related to:

���� (1)�� the types of
documentation and personal information that each student financial aid
application requires, including documents relating to income taxes, finances
and income, college choices, academic status, and personal identification, such
as social security or taxpayer identification numbers;

���� (2)�� an explanation of terms
used in the FAFSA application.� These definitions may include, but shall not be
limited to, �legal guardianship,� �household size,� �parent,� �dependent,� and
�taxable college grants and scholarships�;

���� (3)�� eligibility requirements
for student financial aid; and

���� (4)�� application timelines
and submission deadlines for the FAFSA.

���� b.� The board of education of
a participating school district shall ensure that the parent or guardian of
each student entering grade 12 receives, via written or electronic means,
information on the FAFSA and how to properly complete and submit the form.

���� c.���� The board of education
of a participating school district shall ensure that a paper copy of the FAFSA
is provided upon request to each high school student or the student�s parent or
guardian.

���� d.��� The board of education
shall ensure that any information shared by a student, parent, or guardian
pursuant to this act is handled according to applicable State and federal
privacy laws and regulations.

���� 3.��� At the conclusion of the
pilot program, the Commissioner of Education shall submit a report to the
Governor, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164
(C.52:14-19.1).� The report shall contain information on the implementation of
the pilot program, including the commissioner's recommendation on the
feasibility of implementing the program on a Statewide basis.

���� 4.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill directs the
Commissioner of Education, in coordination with the Higher Education Student
Assistance Authority, to establish a three-year pilot program to provide
information on and assistance in the proper completion and submission of the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).� The goal of the pilot
program is to ensure that each 12th grade student has the opportunity and
instruction necessary to apply for federal financial aid.�

���� Under the bill, a school
district that wants to participate in the program is required to submit a
proposal to the commissioner.� The commissioner will select four districts in
each of the southern, central, and northern regions of the State to participate
in the program.�

���� The bill requires the board of
education of a participating school district to ensure that each student
receives information at least once before the student enters grade 12 on how to
properly complete and submit the FAFSA.� Information may be disseminated
through classroom instruction during regular school hours.� Information may
also be provided through an existing school program, family information
sessions, or group or individual sessions with school counselors.� The
information provided is to include material related to:

���� (1)�� the types of
documentation and personal information that each student financial aid
application requires;

���� (2)�� an explanation of terms
used for each application;

���� (3)�� eligibility requirements
for student financial aid; and

���� (4)�� application timelines
and submission deadlines for the FAFSA.�

���� The bill also requires the
board of education of a participating school district to ensure that the parent
or guardian of each student entering grade 12 receives, via written or
electronic means, information on the FAFSA and how to properly complete and submit
the form.�

���� Under the bill, the board of
education of a participating school district is required to ensure that a paper
copy of the FAFSA is provided upon request to each high school student or the
student�s parent or guardian.� The board of education is also required to
ensure that any information shared by a student, parent, or guardian pursuant
to this bill is handled according to applicable State and federal privacy laws
and regulations.�

���� At the conclusion of the pilot
program, the Commissioner of Education is directed to submit a report to the
Governor and the Legislature.� The report is to contain information on the
implementation of the pilot program, including the commissioner's recommendation
on the feasibility of implementing the program on a Statewide basis.