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A4584
ASSEMBLY, No. 4584
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Stanley
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes pilot program to study feasibility of
regionalization of certain school districts; appropriates $150,000.�
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning the regionalization of certain school districts, supplementing
chapter 13 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an
appropriation.
����
Be It Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� The Commissioner of
Education shall establish a school district regionalization pilot program.� The
purpose of the program shall be to study the feasibility of the establishment
of a grade K-12 all purpose regional school district through the consolidation
of an existing grade 9-12 limited purpose regional school district and the
grade K-8 school districts of its constituent municipalities. The pilot program
shall consist of a one-year Phase I planning stage, a five-year Phase II
implementation stage, and an Evaluation Component. The commissioner shall
select three pilot sites to participate in the program, including one in the
northern, central, and southern regions of the State.
���� 2.��� If the board of
education of a grade 9-12 limited purpose regional school district and the
boards of education of the grade K-8 school districts of its constituent
municipalities determine to participate in the pilot program, the boards shall
jointly submit an application to the commissioner.� The application shall
include a copy of a resolution approving participation in the pilot program
adopted by a majority vote of the members of each of the boards of education.
The application shall also include such other information as the commissioner
may prescribe.
���� 3.��� During the one-year
Phase I planning stage of the pilot program, the selected school districts
shall conduct a feasibility study to determine the educational and financial
impact of forming a grade K-12 all purpose regional school district.� The
districts may apply to the commissioner for a planning grant in an amount not
to exceed $50,000 to cover costs associated with their participation in the
pilot program including, but not limited to, the collection of data, public
relations activities such as community education and outreach, and the
organization of public meetings.� In addition to the planning grant, any costs
associated with the feasibility study shall be paid by the State.
���� The commissioner may extend
the Phase I planning stage through a second year if he determines it to be
advisable.
���� 4.��� a.� In order to
participate in the Phase II implementation stage of the pilot program, the
voters of each constituent municipality of the proposed grade K-12 all purpose
regional school district shall approve such participation.� The question of
participation in Phase II shall be submitted to the voters at the annual or a
special school election.� The question shall be deemed adopted and
participation in Phase II approved by the voters if the question receives an
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in each of the constituent
municipalities of the proposed grade K-12 all purpose regional school district.
���� b.��� The commissioner shall
provide incentive State aid to school districts that participate in the Phase
II implementation stage of the pilot program.� State aid shall be provided in
such amount as is necessary to equalize the apportionment of costs of the grade
K-12 regional school district among the constituent municipalities and to
support the initial costs associated with regionalization.
���� Incentive State aid shall be
provided for each of the five years of the Phase II implementation stage,
except that the commissioner shall annually reduce the amount of incentive
State aid over that five-year period.
���� 5.��� In the Evaluation
Component of the pilot program, the commissioner shall appoint an independent
evaluator to work in each of the pilot sites to design and implement the
evaluation of that site.� The design of the evaluation shall begin during the
Phase I planning stage to ensure the collection of pre-regionalization data.
The design shall address issues such as the impact of the establishment of a
grade K-12 all purpose regional school district on student achievement, school
district finances, parent and student satisfaction with educational programs
and athletic and other extra-curricular school programs, staffing, facilities,
and governance.�
���� Each independent evaluator
shall submit interim reports to the commissioner on an annual basis and a final
report at the conclusion of the pilot program.� The reports shall include a
description of the project activities to date, the identification of issues of
concern, recommendations to ensure the successful implementation of the pilot
program, and recommendations on the advisability of extending the program to
additional sites.
���� 6.��� There is appropriated
$150,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Education to finance the
grants awarded to the pilot sites pursuant to the provisions of this act.
���� 7.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill directs the
Commissioner of Education to establish a school district regionalization pilot
program. The purpose of the program is to study the feasibility of establishing
a grade K-12 all purpose regional school district through the consolidation of
an existing grade 9-12 limited purpose regional school district and the grade
K-8 school districts of its constituent municipalities. The pilot program will
consist of a one-year Phase I planning stage, a five-year Phase II
implementation stage, and an Evaluation Component.
���� The bill directs the
commissioner to select three pilot sites to participate in the program,
including one in a northern, central and southern region of the State. Under
the bill, if a board of education of a grade 9-12 limited purpose regional
school district and the boards of education of the grade K-8 school districts
of its constituent municipalities determine to participate in the pilot
program, the boards must jointly submit an application to the commissioner.�
���� The bill requires that
selected school districts conduct a feasibility study to determine the
educational and financial impact of forming a grade K-12 regional school
district. The districts may apply to the commissioner for a planning grant in
an amount not to exceed $50,000 to cover costs associated with its
participation in the pilot program including, but not limited to, the
collection of data, public relations activities, and the organization of public
meetings.� In addition to the planning grant, any costs associated with the
feasibility study will be paid by the State. The commissioner may extend the
Phase I planning stage through a second year if he determines it to be
advisable.
���� The bill specifies that the
voters of each constituent municipality of the proposed grade K-12 regional
school district must approve the participation in the Phase II implementation
stage.� The commissioner will provide incentive State aid to school districts
that participate in the Phase II implementation stage in an amount as is
necessary to equalize the apportionment of costs of the grade K-12 regional
school district among the constituent municipalities and to support the initial
costs associated with regionalization. Incentive State aid will be provided for
each of the five years of the Phase II implementation stage.
���� The bill also directs the
commissioner to appoint an independent evaluator to work in each of the pilot
sites to design and implement the evaluation of that site. The design would
address issues such as the impact of the establishment of a grade K-12 regional
school district on student achievement, school district finances, parent and
student satisfaction with educational programs and athletic and other
extra-curricular school programs, staffing, facilities, and governance.