This bill mandates that public institutions of higher education in New Jersey report specific data regarding newly admitted students who are placed into or enroll in remedial courses. A remedial course is defined as a non-credit course or one where credits do not count towards degree or certificate requirements. Each institution is required to provide annual reports to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, detailing the total number of newly admitted students, the number placed in remedial courses, and additional relevant information. The Secretary of Higher Education will compile this data into an annual report that includes disaggregated statistics by institution and high school, historical trends, and other pertinent information, which will be published online.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a requirement for the Secretary to monitor school districts with significant increases in the number of students enrolling in remedial courses compared to their five-year averages. If the number exceeds certain thresholds, the Secretary must notify the State Auditor or the Department of Education, which will then include this information in school performance reports. Additionally, the Commissioner of Education is tasked with integrating the data on remedial course placements into the state's accountability system, as mandated by federal law. This initiative aims to address the challenges posed by remedial courses, which can impede students' progress towards their degrees and contribute to increased educational costs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:7E-3