The New Jersey School Counts County College Scholarship Program Act establishes a scholarship program aimed at supporting high school graduates who demonstrate strong attendance, punctuality, and academic performance. Eligible students who graduate from participating public or nonpublic high schools and receive a School Counts certificate will be able to apply for a two-year scholarship to a county college, with awards of up to $2,000 per year, covering tuition, books, and necessary fees. To qualify, students must meet specific criteria, including maintaining a 95% attendance rate, achieving a minimum C grade point average, and completing high school within eight consecutive semesters. The program is designed to encourage responsible and hardworking students to pursue higher education and is modeled after an initiative by the Business Coalition for Educational Excellence.

The scholarship program will be funded through a combination of state appropriations, county college funds, and private contributions, with a maximum of $500,000 in state funds available to each participating county college. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will oversee the program, selecting an initial four county colleges to participate, with plans to expand participation in subsequent years. Students who are dismissed for academic or disciplinary reasons will be required to repay any scholarship funds received, while those who withdraw due to illness or family emergencies will not face repayment obligations. The act is set to take effect for the 2016-2017 academic year, allowing the authority to take necessary administrative actions immediately.