Posted on May 31, 2018
BIG WINS: Governor Murphy signs school meals and chronic absenteeism bills into law!
Great news for New Jersey’s students! Last night, Governor Murphy signed into law a group of bills that will assist students in maximizing their educational potential. Once again, ACNJ’s advocacy efforts have paid off for kids!
The school meals law will require New Jersey’s high-poverty schools to serve breakfast to students during the school day, rather than before school begins. The law is expected to significantly boost student participation in the federal School Breakfast Program and bring millions more in federal dollars back to New Jersey to feed hungry students. Another new law in this package will help more children receive meals over the summer when school is not in session.
The chronic absenteeism law will help schools improve attendance by requiring all schools to keep track of chronically absent students and for schools with high absenteeism to develop action plans on how they will improve attendance.
ACNJ thanks all those individuals and groups that supported the bills, including the bills’ sponsors and the Governor. Without the overwhelming support of our partners, this would not have happened. Special thanks to the Trenton, Paterson, Pemberton, Newark, Plainfield and Long Branch School Districts—to name a few—that have been the models for showing that every day matters! With your help, we are helping more kids receive the education and healthy meals they need to succeed.
