Bill Increases Notifications to Students Regarding Tuition and Scholarship Program

Legislation sponsored by Senator Bill Baroni (R-14) that would require the provision of additional information to high school students regarding their potential eligibility to participate in the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) Program was approved by the Senate and Assembly and currently awaits the Governor’s signature.

The NJ STARS I program provides full scholarships to high school students who graduate in the top 15% of their class, paying the full cost of tuition and fees for up to 18 credit hours at a student’s local county college.  The NJ STARS II program provides scholarships to those who participated in the NJ STARS I program and who have received an associate’s degree at a county college and continue their education at a state college or university.  Students who graduate from county colleges with a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average and who maintain that average at a state college qualify for scholarships of $3,000 to $3,500 per semester.

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DIEGNAN/LAMPITT BILL ENHANCING NJ STARS' STANDARDS, SUSTAINABILITY NOW LAW

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly members Patrick J. Diegnan and Pamela Lampitt sponsored to reform the popular NJ STARS college scholarship programs to strengthen its eligibility standards and ease the financial burden on the state's colleges was signed into law today by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Sandra Bolden Cunningham and Teresa Ruiz, which would make changes to the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) and the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II (NJ STARS II) programs, to keep them more economically sustainable for the State of New Jersey, received final legislative approval today by the full Senate, by a vote of 33 to 4.

            “This bill is a product of a task force charged with the responsibility of studying the NJ STARS programs, and making recommendations of ways to ensure the programs’ longevity,” said Senator Cunningham, D-Hudson, who was a member of the NJ STARS Task Force.  “This bill is definitely not the perfect solution to the problems of funding these scholarships. But it is the first step in the right direction toward amending the NJ STARS programs, and ensuring that they can benefit the best and brightest students from all areas in New Jersey.”

            “My main concern for this legislation - and for the STARS programs in general - is that there must be a committed effort to ensure that all of the State’s school districts have equal access to these programs,” said Senator Ruiz, D-Essex and Union, who was a member of the NJ STARS Task Force. “The enactment of this bill would serve as the first of many necessary changes that would transform this well-intended legislation from a good law that helps students, to a real chance at higher education for high-achieving students from all walks of life here in New Jersey.”  

ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER ECONOMIC RELIEF BILLS, PLANS TO SAVE NJ STARS, PREVENT ENCAP REPEAT

(TRENTON) – The Assembly Monday will continue focusing on the global economic crisis by considering more bills to help New Jerseyans and businesses emerge stronger from the worldwide financial meltdown, while also considering legislation to save a popular scholarship program and prevent a repeat of the EnCap disaster.

The session will be the fourth since late September focused heavily on combating economic woes. The Assembly has so far advanced about 40 bills related to the economy and on Monday will consider final legislative approval for measures to boost businesses and prevent foreclosures.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Sandra Bolden Cunningham and Teresa Ruiz, which would make changes to the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) and the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II (NJ STARS II), to keep these programs economically sustainable for the State of New Jersey, was approved today by the Senate Education Committee.

            “Considering the dire fiscal straits the State is in, these programs must be changed to ensure that they can continue to provide access to higher education for the State’s best and brightest students,” said Senator Cunningham, D-Hudson, who is a member of the NJ STARS Task Force.  “I’ve listened to the testimony of students who have benefitted greatly from the NJ STARS programs, even in the short time since they were created.   This is a tough, but necessary decision that we’ve had to make, and these revisions to the current law would allow the State to continue to provide these scholarship programs to hard-working New Jersey students.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Sandra Bolden Cunningham and Teresa Ruiz, which would make changes to the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) and the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II (NJ STARS II), to keep these programs economically sustainable for the State of New Jersey, was approved today by the Senate Education Committee by a vote of x to x.

            “Considering the dire fiscal straits the State is in, these programs must be changed to ensure that they can continue to provide access to higher education for the State’s best and brightest students,” said Senator Cunningham, D-Hudson, who is a member of the NJ STARS Task Force.  “I’ve listened to the testimony of students who have benefitted greatly from the NJ STARS programs, even in the short time since they were created.   This is a tough, but necessary decision that we’ve had to make, and these revisions to the current law would allow the State to continue to provide these scholarship programs to hard-working New Jersey students.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators John H. Adler and Shirley K. Turner which would amend the laws that created the NJ STARS  and NJ STARS II programs to provide a military services exemption for NJ STARS scholarship recipients who are called to active duty received unanimous final legislative approval today by the full Senate.

“We should do everything we can to show our veterans how highly we regard them and the work they do to protect our country and our freedom,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill.  “This is one of the many ways that government can and should embrace our veterans.”

 “This legislation is about helping to ensure that we honor our service members who are called into active duty while working to obtain a college degree,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer, who chairs the Senate Education Committee.  “As they risk their lives helping to protect us, we must also work to ensure that their educational opportunities are protected here at home.”

LAMPITT/DIEGNAN/STANLEY BILL CREATING SEAMLESS
COLLEGE CREDIT TRANSFERS RELEASED BY COMMITTEE
Credit Acceptance Agreement Would Help Students with Associate Degrees

(TRENTON) -- The Assembly Higher Education Committee today released legislation Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt and Assemblymen Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. and Craig Stanley sponsored to create a new system to allow county college credits to be seamlessly accepted by other New Jersey colleges and universities.

Codey Initiatives Pass Full Senate
Stronger Local Pay-to-Play Ban Option Passes on the Floor
Additional Legislation Will Protect Teens, Motorists; Provide Scholarships

Senator Bryant's 'NJ STARS II' Bill Clears Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
Trenton - A measure sponsored by Senator Wayne R. Bryant that would expand the "NJ STARS" law to enable some of the State's most exceptional students to earn Bachelor's degrees free of charge was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

"This measure is the next step in helping to reward New Jersey's exceptional students for their hard work," said Senator Bryant, D-Camden and Gloucester, Chair of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Education Committee. "With this bill, we are pushing 'NJ STARS' further, to help ensure that the State's best students are able to continue their educational careers and earn the necessary degrees to allow them to compete in tomorrow's workforce."