Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REGINALD W. ATKINS
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Haider, Assemblymen Sampson, Stanley, Spearman, Mukherji, Kennedy, Assemblywomen Carter and Jaffer
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts to provide information on process of obtaining US citizenship.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning informational materials in schools and supplementing chapter 6 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. A school district shall provide written informational materials to students in grades kindergarten through 12 describing the steps to becoming a citizen of the United States. The materials shall include, but not be limited to, information on:
(1) applying for citizenship, including organizations that provide application assistance;
(2) preparing for citizenship tests; and
(3) pathways to citizenship workshops or programs in the surrounding area.
b. The written informational materials distributed by a school district pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be made available in English, Spanish, and any other language the school district determines is the first language of a significant number of students and their families in the district.
c. The Department of Education shall develop guidelines for school districts to help identify resources and information concerning the informational materials required pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
d. A school district shall host two sessions per school year to provide information to parents regarding the steps to becoming a citizen of the United States. The sessions required pursuant to this subsection may be held remotely or in person.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires school districts to provide written informational materials to students in grades kindergarten through 12 on the steps to become a citizen of the United States. The bill requires the materials to include information on: applying for citizenship, including organizations that provide application assistance; preparing for citizenship tests; and pathways to citizenship workshops or programs in the surrounding area. The written informational materials are to be made available in English, Spanish, and any other language the school district determines is the first language of a significant number of students and their families in the district. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Education to develop guidelines for school districts to help identify resources and information concerning the required informational materials.
Over a quarter-million residents in New Jersey live with at least one family member who is undocumented, and about one in 11 children in the State live with at least one undocumented family member. This bill aims to provide resources for undocumented individuals in New Jersey by providing educational services to those who seek to become citizens of the United States.