Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday signed two NJBIA-supported bills establishing new initiatives to ensure young children have access to resources needed to become strong, confident readers, setting them on the road to educational and workforce success.
The first bill, S-2644, sponsored by Senators M. Teresa Ruiz (D-29) and Vin Gopal (D-11), creates a working group on student literacy, mandates universal literacy screenings for K-3 students, and requires professional development at no cost to school districts for early education teaching staff, librarians, and others serving multilingual learners or students with disabilities.
The second bill, A-2288, sponsored by Assembly members Yvonne Lopez (D-19) and Benjie Wimberly (D-35), establishes the Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery in the state Department of Education. The office will help improve the DOE’s capacity to make data-driven decisions, coordinate resources, and research best practices to support effective literacy, learning equity, and professional development opportunities.
The governor said the new laws balance targeted intervention, tested learning strategies, teacher training, and continuous monitoring.
“Literacy education represents the foundation upon which all future learning is built, and we owe it to our children to give them the strongest foundation possible,” Murphy said. “By bolstering support for literacy education, we are enabling New Jersey students to thrive both academically and in life, helping them to become informed, thoughtful, and engaged citizens.”
NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka said the new laws will produce lasting benefits not only for children but also for businesses that rely on a highly educated workforce in the future.
“Strengthening reading and literacy outcomes for students gives them a better head start in all walks of life and provides improved preparation for continuing their post-secondary education or for entering the workforce,” Siekerka said.
“We thank the sponsors and supporters of this legislation as well as Governor Murphy for giving our students even more opportunity toward professional and personal development in these early stages,” Siekerka added.
