The state Senate passed legislation last month that would require New Jersey’s school report cards to include where students are placed after graduation, including non-college placements.
The bill – sponsored by senators Troy Singleton and Angela McKnight – mandates that the information be reported at both the district and individual school level and include apprenticeship placements.
“For too long, we have measured school success almost exclusively through test scores and college enrollment,” Singleton explained. “This bill recognizes that success takes many forms, including apprenticeships and other career pathways that lead to stable, rewarding employment. Families deserve a clearer picture of how well schools are preparing students for life after graduation.”
Current report cards provide a profile of the most recent graduating class and summarize post-secondary education or employment plans. The information is reported only at the district level and does not provide detailed data by school or identify specific career pathways such as apprenticeships.
Under the legislation, report cards would be expanded to include an additional indicator of student success: the number of students who secure placement following graduation, including in registered apprenticeships. The bill would take effect immediately and apply beginning with the first full school year after enactment.
“Students pursue many different paths after high school, and our accountability systems should reflect that reality,” McKnight said. “By highlighting apprenticeships and other career placements, we elevate non-college pathways and send a clear message that skilled trades and career training programs are valuable and respected options.”
The State School Report Card Program is designed to provide families, educators, and communities with transparent information about school performance, including graduation rates, assessment results and indicators of career readiness.
By adding more detailed placement data at the school and district levels, the legislation aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how effectively schools prepare students for meaningful careers and long-term success.
