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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey bill establishes special education grant program to reduce out-of-district placements
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education CommitteeSponsor: Gerry Scharfenberger
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What This Bill Would Do
Assembly Bill 809 directs the New Jersey Commissioner of Education to establish a grant program providing start-up funds for school districts to develop in-district and collaborative special education programs. The measure requires the commissioner to issue a request for proposals within 90 days, select recipients across northern, central, and southern regions, collect performance data, and submit an evaluation report to the Governor and Legislature within three years.
School districts face financial and operational changes as they apply for state start-up funds to build local special education infrastructure, potentially altering where receive services and how districts manage special education expenditures.
- Assembly Bill 809 was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026 New Jersey legislative session and sponsored by Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
School districts
School districts can apply for start-up grant funds, must submit program proposals, and are required to collect and report effectiveness data if selected.
Classified students
Classified students may receive expanded in-district special education programs and services instead of being placed out-of-district.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for the special education grants?
What can grant funds be spent on?
How are grant recipients selected?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance55How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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