This bill establishes a three-year pilot program for school-based mentoring in public schools located within 1,000 feet of gunfire, defined as a "crisis zone." The program aims to enhance the social-emotional and behavioral skills of young children in grades kindergarten through three who are at risk for mental health disorders and substance abuse. The Commissioner of Education will select the Jersey City School District and six additional districts from different regions of the state to participate. A curriculum will be adopted that includes weekly, 25-minute one-on-one mentoring sessions focused on emotional monitoring, resilience building, and coping skills. The commissioner is also authorized to provide grants to assist in the program's implementation.

Participating schools are required to designate and train three to five mentors, identify students facing developmental challenges, utilize the approved curriculum, and evaluate students' progress at various stages of the program. The bill emphasizes a structured approach to mentoring, modeled after the Rochester Resilience Project, which has demonstrated success in improving emotional regulation among at-risk children. Upon completion of the pilot program, the commissioner will report on the feasibility of expanding the program statewide.