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AJR120
ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION
No. 120
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
���� Designates last Friday in March of every year as
�Social-Emotional Learning Day.�
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
A Joint
Resolution
designating the last Friday in
March of every year as �Social-Emotional Learning Day.�
Whereas,
The State of New Jersey is enriched when its residents acquire the skills necessary
to achieve professional success, familial stability, and community development;
and��
Whereas,
Social-emotional learning (�SEL�) is the process through which individuals
acquire and apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand
and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for
others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible
decisions; and
Whereas,
The core competencies of SEL promote the cultivation of self-awareness,
self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible
decision-making, all of which are essential to the success and stability of
every school, workplace, family, and community in the State; and
Whereas,
These SEL competencies, which can be developed during childhood, adolescence,
and beyond, foster individuals who strive to make meaningful contributions to
society; and
Whereas,
The engagement of schools, families, and community leaders is needed to promote
the acquisition of SEL competencies by children, adolescents, and all other
residents of the State; and
Whereas,
Given the long-term social and economic benefits achieved through SEL, it is
altogether fitting and proper for this State to dedicate its public resources
to the advancement of evidence-based SEL; now, therefore,
����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� The last Friday in March
of every year is designated as �Social-Emotional Learning Day� in the State of
New Jersey to encourage the study and integration of social-emotional learning
within every school, organization, and community in the State.
���� 2.��� The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation designating the last
Friday in March as �Social-Emotional Learning Day� and call upon the public
officials and citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate
activities and programs.
���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This joint resolution
designates the last Friday in March of every year as �Social-Emotional Learning
Day� to encourage the study and integration of social-emotional learning (�SEL�)
within every school, organization, and community in the State.
���� SEL is the process through
which individuals acquire and apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills
necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals,
feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships,
and make responsible decisions.� The core competencies of SEL promote the
cultivation of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship
skills, and responsible decision-making, all of which are essential to the
success and stability of every school, workplace, family, and community in the
State.� These competencies, which can be developed during childhood,
adolescence, and beyond, foster individuals who strive to make meaningful
contributions to society.
���� However, the engagement of
schools, families, and community leaders is needed to promote the acquisition
of SEL competencies by children, adolescents, and all other residents of the
State.� Given the long-term social and economic benefits achieved through SEL,
it is altogether fitting and proper for this State to dedicate its public
resources to the advancement of evidence-based SEL.