The New Jersey College Ready Students Program Act aims to provide tuition-free dual enrollment opportunities at county colleges for eligible public high school students. The program will be established by the Commissioner of Education in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, and eligibility will be determined based on the same family need criteria used by the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund. Students in the 11th and 12th grades can earn up to 3 credits per semester and a maximum of 6 credits per school year, provided their school district has a dual enrollment agreement with a county college and they meet a minimum grade point average indicating college readiness. To maintain eligibility, students must achieve a grade of C or higher in their college courses, and those who fall short of the GPA requirement can take one remedial course tuition-free per semester.

The bill stipulates that the State will cover the tuition costs for participating students and mandates the Commissioner of Education to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature. This report will include data on student participation, course completion, program costs, and the number of students graduating high school and planning to enroll in college. The act is set to take effect immediately and will first apply to the full school year following its enactment.