Proposes constitutional amendment prohibiting any student from being compelled to attend public school other than one nearest to student's residence.

SCR79

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 79

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 2, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� JON M. BRAMNICK

District 21 (Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union)

SYNOPSIS

���� Proposes constitutional amendment prohibiting any
student from being compelled to attend public school other than one nearest to
student�s residence.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A
Concurrent Resolution
proposing to amend
Article VIII, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution.

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate of the State of New
Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

���� 1.��� The following proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is agreed to:

PROPOSED
AMENDMENT

���� Amend Article VIII, Section
IV, paragraph 1 to read as follows:

���� 1.� The Legislature shall
provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of
free public schools for the instruction of all the children in the State
between the ages of five and eighteen years.

����
No student shall be
compelled to attend a public school other than the public school nearest the
residence of the student, which public school is located within the school
district in which the student resides and provides the course of study pursued
by the student.

(cf: Art.VIII, Sec.IV, par.1)

���� 2.� When this proposed
amendment to the Constitution is finally agreed to pursuant to Article IX,
paragraph 1 of the Constitution, it shall be submitted to the people at the
next general election occurring more than three months after the final
agreement and shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper of
each county designated by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
General Assembly and the Secretary of State, not less than three months prior
to the general election.

���� 3.� This proposed amendment to
the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at that election in the
following manner and form:

���� There shall be printed on each
official ballot to be used at the general election, the following:

���� a.� In every municipality in
which voting machines are not used, a legend which shall immediately precede
the question as follows:

���� If you favor the proposition
printed below make a cross (X), plus (+), or check (
a
) in the square opposite the word "Yes." If you are
opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (
a
) in the square opposite the
word "No."

���� b.� In
every municipality the following question:

CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT PROHIBITING COMPELLING THE ATTENDANCE OF A STUDENT AT A PUBLIC
SCHOOL OTHER THAN THE ONE NEAREST THE STUDENT�S RESIDENCE

YES

Do you approve amending the
Constitution to prohibit compelling any student to attend a public school
other than the public school (1) nearest to the student�s residence; and (2)
located within the school district in which the student resides; and (3) that
provides the course of study being pursued by the student?

INTERPRETIVE
STATEMENT

NO

This amendment would prohibit
forcing any student to attend a public school other than the public school
that is in the student�s school district and is nearest to the student�s
home.� The public school nearest to the student�s home would have to be providing
the course of study being pursued by the student.

STATEMENT

���� This constitutional amendment
would prohibit compelling any student to attend a public school other than the
public school nearest to the student�s residence and which is located within
the school district in which the student resides, provided the public school
provides the course of study which the student is pursuing.���