TRENTON, NJ – In an effort to modernize school performance reports, the Senate Education Committee on Monday unanimously advanced legislation sponsored by Senators Troy Singleton and Angela McKnight which would require school performance reports to include information about the placement of graduates, including placement in an apprenticeship.

“For too long, we have measured school success almost exclusively through test scores and college enrollment,” said Senator Singleton (D-Burlington), who represents Mount Laurel in the Legislature. “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.”

The bill, S-1773, would require school performance reports issued through the State School Report Card Program to include the number of students achieving placement following graduation at both the district and individual school level, and would specifically include placements in apprenticeship programs.​
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Currently, school performance report cards provide a profile of the most recent graduating class and summarize post-secondary education or employment plans at the district level only, and does not provide detailed data by school or identify specific career pathways such as apprenticeships.

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 both 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.

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 participation in registered apprenticeship programs. 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,” said Senator McKnight (D-Hudson). “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.”

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