Bill Text: NJ S4371 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes State Seal of Civic Engagement Pilot Program.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-01 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S4371 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S4371-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator RAJ MUKHERJI
District 32 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes State Seal of Civic Engagement Pilot Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the State Seal of Civic Engagement Pilot Program and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Department of Education the two-year State Seal of Civic Engagement Pilot Program. The pilot program shall establish the State Seal of Civic Engagement to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in civic knowledge, skills, and applied engagement. The State Seal of Civic Engagement shall be awarded by the local board of education to graduating high school seniors participating in the program who meet the criteria established by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection b. of this section.
b. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), establishing criteria for the award of a State Seal of Civic Engagement under the pilot program. The criteria shall require a student to demonstrate:
(1) completion of a United States Government, Civics, or Advanced Placement Government course with a grade of a B- or higher;
(2) a passing score on a State-approved Civic Literacy Assessment modeled on the Advanced Placement Government exam; and
(3) at least 10 hours of verified community service or civic engagement activities that contribute to the public good and promote participation in community or democratic practices. Eligible activities may include volunteer service with nonprofit organizations, service-learning projects, participation in community-based initiatives, or other activities approved by school districts consistent with Department of Education guidelines.
c. A school district that wishes to participate in the pilot program shall apply in a manner to be determined by the Commissioner of Education. The commissioner shall select five school districts to participate in the pilot program, including at least one district in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, and shall seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State. The pilot program shall award grants to participating school districts in an amount to be determined by the commissioner to cover the costs of the pilot program. Grants awarded pursuant to the pilot program shall be supported by funds appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of the program, and the commissioner shall seek out additional funding from appropriate federal or private civic education organizations.
d. A school district participating in the pilot program shall assign a school administrator, educator, or school guidance counselor to verify that a student has successfully fulfilled the criteria required pursuant to subsection b. of this section.
e. The department shall issue guidance to school districts participating in the pilot program, including identifying an exam to fulfill the requirement pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection b. of this section. The department shall also maintain a record of school districts participating in the pilot program. The department may work with civic education organizations and institutions of higher education to aid in the establishment of the pilot program.
f. The commissioner shall prepare and deliver to participating school districts a certificate to be awarded to the student and an appropriate insignia to be affixed to the transcript of the student indicating that the student has been awarded the State Seal of Civic Engagement. A participating school district shall maintain appropriate records in order to identify students who have earned the State Seal of Civic Engagement and shall award the certificate and affix the appropriate insignia to a qualifying student's transcript.
g. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, and the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), that includes the number of students awarded the State Seal of Civic Engagement and the commissioner's recommendation on expansion of the program to all school districts in the State.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to students graduating in the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes in the Department of Education the two-year State Seal of Civic Engagement Pilot Program. Under the pilot program, the State Seal of Civic Engagement would be established to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in civic knowledge, skills, and applied engagement. The State Seal of Civic Engagement would be awarded by the local board of education to graduating high school seniors participating in the program who meet the criteria established by the State Board of Education under the bill.
The bill requires the State Board of Education to develop regulations establishing criteria for the award of a State Seal of Civic Engagement under the pilot program. The criteria would require a student to demonstrate:
(1) completion of a United States Government, Civics, or Advanced Placement Government course with a grade of a B- or higher;
(2) a passing score on a State-approved Civic Literacy Assessment modeled on the Advanced Placement Government exam; and
(3) at least 10 hours of verified community service or civic engagement activities that contribute to the public good and promote participation in community or democratic practices.
The bill requires a school district that wishes to participate in the pilot program to apply in a manner to be determined the Commissioner of Education. The commissioner would select five districts to participate in the pilot program, including at least one district in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, and would seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State. The bill provides that a school district participating in the pilot program would assign a school administrator, educator, or school guidance counselor to verify that a student has successfully fulfilled the criteria required under the bill.
The bill requires the department to issue guidance to school districts participating in the pilot program. The department would also maintain a record of school districts participating in the pilot program. The bill permits the department to work with civic education organizations and institutions of higher education to aid in the establishment of the pilot program.
The bill requires the commissioner to prepare and deliver to participating school districts a certificate to be awarded to the student and an appropriate insignia to be affixed to the transcript of the student indicating that the student has been awarded the State Seal of Civic Engagement. A participating school district would be required to maintain appropriate records in order to identify students who have earned the State Seal of Civic Engagement and award the certificate and affix the appropriate insignia to a qualifying student's transcript.
At the conclusion of the pilot program, the bill requires the commissioner to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature that includes the number of students awarded the State Seal of Civic Engagement, and the commissioner's recommendation on expansion of the program to all school districts in the State.
