Bill Text: NJ A5621 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes "Dual Enrollment Grant Program" for NJ institutions of higher education to expand opportunities for students to earn college credits while in high school.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-06-20 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A5621 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A5621-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REGINALD W. ATKINS
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Dual Enrollment Grant Program" for NJ institutions of higher education to expand opportunities for students to earn college credits while in high school.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a "Dual Enrollment Grant Program" in the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and supplementing chapter 61C 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 Secretary of Higher Education shall establish a "Dual Enrollment Grant Program." The program shall award $7 million to New Jersey institutions of higher education that provide college-level instruction for high school students through courses offered by the institution on its campus or in a high school.
b. The grant recipient shall use the funds to expand opportunities for students to earn college credits while in high school.
c. To be eligible for consideration of a grant award, an institution of higher education shall submit an application to the Secretary of Higher Education in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the secretary. A grant application shall include a complete description of the institution's specific plans and objectives for the use of the grant funds and any other information specified by the secretary.
d. The secretary shall establish selection criteria for awarding grant funds under the program, and shall award grants through a competitive process based upon review of the applications and subject to the availability of funds. The secretary shall establish the amount for each grant that is approved.
e. Any unexpended balance of grant funds at the end of any fiscal year shall be available for the same purpose in the succeeding year or years.
f. The secretary shall submit a report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, following each year in which grants are awarded, on the effectiveness of the grant program.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to establish a "Dual Enrollment Grant Program." Under the program $7 million is to be awarded to New Jersey institutions of higher education that provide college-level instruction for high school students through courses offered by the institution on its campus or in a high school. The grant recipient is to use the funds to expand opportunities for students to earn college credits while in high school.
In order to be eligible for consideration of a grant award, an institution of higher education is required to submit an application to the Secretary of Higher Education in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the secretary. A grant application is required to include a complete description of the institution's specific plans and objectives for the use of the grant funds and any other information specified by the secretary.
The secretary is to establish selection criteria for awarding grant funds under the program, and is to award grants through a competitive process based upon review of the applications and subject to the availability of funds. The secretary is required to establish the amount for each grant that is approved.
Finally, the secretary is required to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the effectiveness of the grant program, following each year in which a grant is awarded.
