This bill establishes a guaranteed admissions program for public school students in New Jersey, allowing eligible grade 12 students to receive conditional admission to public institutions of higher education based on academic merit. The Secretary of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Department of Education and the New Jersey Presidents Council, will set minimum academic merit requirements that consider factors such as cumulative GPA, class rank, coursework complexity, standardized test scores, and statewide assessment performance. Eligible students must be state residents for at least one year and first-time applicants to a full-time degree program. The bill also allows for different academic requirements based on the selectivity of each institution and clarifies that admission does not guarantee entry into specific majors or programs.

Additionally, the bill mandates the Secretary of Higher Education to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature detailing the program's implementation. This report will include data on the number of students admitted, categorized by various demographics, as well as an evaluation of the program's effectiveness in addressing issues such as the out-migration of public high school graduates and enrollment among low-income and underserved populations. Recommendations for program improvement will also be included in the report.