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A4672
ASSEMBLY, No. 4672
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026
Sponsored by:
dAssemblywoman� AURA K. DUNN
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Fantasia
SYNOPSIS
���� Directs Commissioner of Education to develop
guidelines on outdoor education opportunities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning public school curriculum and supplementing
chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.�
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a.� The Commissioner of
Education shall develop guidelines to incorporate outdoor education
opportunities in the public school curriculum.� The guidelines shall identify:
���� (1)�� ways to create and
expand outdoor learning opportunities for students, including field trips; and�
���� (2)�� resources and training
opportunities for public school teachers on outdoor learning protocols and best
practices.
���� b. Each board of education
shall be encouraged, to the greatest extent practicable and subject to
available funding, to incorporate the guidelines developed pursuant to
subsection a. of this section as part of the curriculum for the district's
elementary and secondary school students.
���� 2.� This act shall take effect
immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the
date of enactment.�
STATEMENT
���� This bill directs the
Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines to incorporate outdoor
education opportunities in the public school curriculum.� The guidelines are
required to identify:
���� (1) �ways to create and expand
outdoor learning opportunities, including field trips, for students; and�
���� (2) �resources and training
opportunities for public school teachers on outdoor learning protocols and best
practices.
���� The bill further provides that
each board of education is encouraged, to the greatest extent practicable and
subject to available funding, to incorporate the guidelines as part of the
curriculum for the district's elementary and secondary school students.
���� Outdoor learning provides an
opportunity for school districts, parents, and local communities to proactively
combat the impact of both Covid-related learning loss and mental health
challenges experienced by the State�s youth.� A recent study of American children
reports that parents of children eight to 12 years old said that their children
spend three times as many hours with computers and televisions each week as
they do playing outside.� Further, a
ccording to
mental health professionals, the rates of depression and anxiety observed in
young people are soaring. In December 2021, Surgeon-General Vivek Murthy
declared that the United States had entered a �youth mental health
crisis.� Experts know that exposure to nature can help relieve depression
and anxiety, and even help heal trauma. Multiple studies show that
spending time outdoors has positive effects on physical and mental health. For
young people in particular, nature exposure can boost concentration, improve
social skills and even help them perform better in school.
It is
the sponsor�s belief that providing increased outdoor education opportunities
will contribute in positive ways to students� physical health, mental health,
and academic outcomes.