Bill Package Aims to Set Students Up for Success as They Enter NJ Workforce
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Assembly Higher Education Committee Advances Legislation Creating Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative Act and the New Economy Opportunity Skills System Act
(TRENTON) – The Assembly Higher Education Committee today advanced several bills designed to set students up for success, providing them with workforce training to help them secure jobs in today’s economy. The bill package included Bill A5211, which codifies the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative, known as NJ Pathways.
“We need to do all we can to make sure our students are well prepared to enter the workforce,” said Assemblywoman Linda Carter (D-Somerset, Union), Chair of the Higher Education Committee. “Creating opportunities for New Jersey students and ensuring that our businesses have qualified workers will strengthen New Jersey’s economy. NJ Pathways already has a track record of success at achieving those goals.”
Since its December 2021 launch in partnership with the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, NJ Pathways has built out a network of high schools, community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities. Working with labor unions and other organizations, the program offers training, apprenticeships, and professional development.
“The NJ Pathways to Career Opportunities Initiative has a successful and growing track record of engaging industry, union, workforce development and educational partners to inform and deliver effective training solutions for New Jersey residents,” said Althea D. Ford, NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs at the New Jersey Business and Industry Association. “Just as with the Workplace Literacy and Basic Skills Training Program, codifying this initiative signals that New Jersey remains committed to advancing proven strategies that equip our workforce with the career skills needed for success.”
Bill A5211 is sponsored by Assembly members Cody Miller, Roy Freiman and Luanne Peterapaul.
The Higher Education Committee also advanced Bill A5213, sponsored by Assembly members Michael Venezia, Reginald Atkins, and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, which seeks to strengthen collaboration between local workforce development boards and community colleges. The bill would require the State Employment and Training Commission to establish the New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program, which would seek to develop and implement workforce training focused on industry-recognized credentials.
“In this time of rapid economic, technological, and social changes, New Jersey's 18 community colleges are more important than ever before, connecting some 240,000 New Jerseyans to affordable, high-quality academic and workforce training opportunities every year,” said Aaron Fichtner, Ph.D., President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC). “We are thrilled that the Assembly Higher Education Committee passed bills that will strengthen collaboration across our institutions and with critical employer, workforce development, and social services partners.”
The Assembly Higher Education Committee also advanced the following bills today to bolster community colleges and workforce development:
A5182 (Carter/Murphy) – Modernizes responsibilities of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges.
A5183 (Drulis/Verrelli/Sampson
A5212 (Simmons/Donlon/Swain) – Provides for expansion of social services supports at county colleges.