Requires State Board of Education to evaluate historical events for inclusion in New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

S3913

SENATE, No. 3913

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires State Board of Education to evaluate
historical events for inclusion in New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning the New Jersey Student Learning Standards
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.� During the next
scheduled update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies
following the date of enactment of this act, as conducted pursuant to section 4
of P.L.2007, c.270 (C.18A:7F-46), the State Board of Education shall review and
update the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies to ensure
the incorporation of instruction on recent historical events in an appropriate
place in the curriculum for students in grades kindergarten through 12. The
board shall consider the addition of standards pertaining to the events
surrounding September 11, 2001, and any other events of historical significance
that the board deems appropriate. The board shall adhere to the review and
readoption process for the New Jersey Student Learning Standards established
pursuant to regulations of the State Board of Education. The board shall
provide members of the public with the opportunity to comment in person or to
submit written comments regarding the update to the New Jersey Student Learning
Standards in Social Studies required pursuant to this subsection.

���� b.� Following the update to
the New Jersey Student Learning Standards pursuant to subsection a. of this
section, the board shall consider the addition of any further historical events
to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards concurrent with each update to the
New Jersey Student Learning Standards required pursuant to section 4 of
P.L.2007, c.270 (C.18A:7F-46).

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires the State
Board of Education to review and update, during the next scheduled update to
the New Jersey Student Learning Standards, the New Jersey Student Learning
Standards in Social Studies to ensure the incorporation of instruction on
recent historical events in an appropriate place in the curriculum for students
in grades kindergarten through 12. The board would be required to consider the
addition of standards pertaining to the events surrounding September 11, 2001,
and any other events of historical significance that the board deems
appropriate. The board would be required to adhere to the review and readoption
process for the New Jersey Student Learning Standards established pursuant to
regulations of the State Board of Education. The board will provide members of
the public with the opportunity to comment in person or to submit written
comments regarding the update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in
Social Studies required pursuant to the provisions of the bill.

���� Under current State
regulation, recommended changes to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards
are presented by the Commissioner of Education to the State Board of Education
at a public meeting of the board. Pursuant to the current State regulation, the
board adopts the New Jersey Student Learning Standards after conducting public
hearings on the commissioner�s recommendations.

���� Finally, the bill requires the
board to consider the addition of any further historical events to the Student
Learning Standards in Social Studies concurrent with each scheduled update to
the Student Learning Standards.