TRENTON, N.J. — Every graduating high school student in New Jersey would receive an offer of admission from their local county college under legislation approved Thursday by the state Senate.
The bill, S-4128, is sponsored by state Sens. Andrew Zwicker, D-Middlesex/Mercer/Somerset/Hunterdon, and Angela McKnight, D-Hudson, according to the Senate Democratic Office.
It would require each county college to send graduating students at both public and private high schools an admission offer by Dec. 1, along with instructions on how to apply, accept the offer, register for classes, seek financial aid and use student support services.
“Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education, but too often, students miss out because they don’t know where to start or what options are available to them,” Zwicker said.
McKnight said uncertainty about applications, enrollment and cost keeps many students from considering college. “This bill puts the information students need at their fingertips, helping remove barriers to higher education and strengthen our state’s educational future,” she said.
Under the measure, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education would set guidelines for determining which students are eligible and for notifying them of their admission offers.
The program would also come with an annual report to the governor and Legislature that tracks how many students are admitted, assesses whether the program is working and recommends ways to improve or expand the state’s admission policies.
The release did not include a vote count or indicate the bill’s status in the Assembly.
This report is based on a press release from the New Jersey Senate Democrats.
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