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 is tasked with selecting the Jersey City School District and six additional public schools in crisis zones to participate in the program. A curriculum will be adopted that includes weekly, 25-minute one-on-one mentoring sessions focused on emotional monitoring, resilience building, and maintaining control.

Participating schools are required to designate and train three to five mentors, identify students facing behavioral and social-emotional challenges, and implement the approved curriculum. They must also evaluate students at various stages of the program. The Commissioner is authorized to provide grants to assist schools in implementing the program and may contract with a third party for administration. Upon completion of the pilot, the Commissioner will report on the program's feasibility for statewide implementation. This initiative is inspired by the Rochester Resilience Project, which has demonstrated success in improving emotional regulation among at-risk children.