Bill Text: NJ S153 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs Secretary of Higher Education to conduct study to determine extent and cause of outmigration of high school graduates to out-of-State colleges.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S153 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S153-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator VINCENT J. POLISTINA
District 2 (Atlantic)
SYNOPSIS
Directs Secretary of Higher Education to conduct study to determine extent and cause of outmigration of high school graduates to out-of-State colleges.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the outmigration of high school graduates to out-of-State colleges.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall conduct a study to determine the extent and causes of the outmigration of New Jersey's high school graduates to out-of-State colleges and universities. The study shall include, but need not be limited to:
a. a survey of high school seniors enrolled in public and nonpublic schools in the State to determine the reasons why some students choose a public or independent institution of higher education in New Jersey and why some choose an out-of-State institution;
b. a review of the academic characteristics of students who choose an in-State institution and students who choose an out-of-State institution;
c. a review of the socio-economic characteristics of the families of students who choose an in-State institution and the families who choose an out-of-State institution;
d. a review of the academic quality of the out-of-State institutions at which New Jersey high school graduates choose to enroll and a comparison of the academic ranking of those institutions with New Jersey's public and independent institutions of higher education;
e. a survey of and consultation with public and nonpublic high school guidance counselors in order to receive their input on the reasons for the outmigration of high school graduates;
f. an analysis of the extent to which the outmigration of high school graduates is impacted by the small geographic size of the State and the desire of college students to experience independent living at a distance from their families; and
g. a review of available literature and data on the outmigration of high school graduates in New Jersey and other states.
2. Within 18 months of the effective date of this act, the secretary shall submit a report of its study to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1). The report shall include, but need not be limited to, an overview of the extent of the outmigration of New Jersey high school graduates, the secretary's findings on the reasons for the
outmigration, and the secretary's analysis of what, if any, actions the State might take to reverse the flow of students to out-of-State institutions.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to conduct a study to determine the extent and causes of the outmigration of New Jersey's high school graduates to out-of-State colleges and universities. The study will include, but need not be limited to:
· a survey of high school seniors enrolled in public and nonpublic schools in the State to determine the reasons why a student might choose an out-of-State institution;
· a review of the academic characteristics of students who choose an in-State institution and students who choose an out-of-State institution;
· a review of the socio-economic characteristics of the families of students who choose an in-State institution and the families who choose an out-of-State institution;
· a review of the academic quality of the out-of-State institutions in which New Jersey high school graduates choose to enroll and a comparison of the academic ranking of those institutions with New Jersey's public and independent institutions of higher education;
· a survey of and consultation with public and nonpublic high school guidance counselors on the reasons for the outmigration of high school graduates;
· an analysis of the extent to which the outmigration of high school graduates is impacted by the small geographic size of the State and the desire of college students to experience independent living at a distance from their families; and
· a review of available literature and data on the outmigration of high school graduates in New Jersey and other states.
The bill requires the secretary to prepare and submit a report of the study's findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within 18 months of the bill's effective date.
