NJ S3266

Directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a pilot program studying the feasibility of consolidating existing grade 9-12 regional school districts with their constituent K-8 school districts into K-12 all-purpose regional districts

Three pilot sites will be selected (one each in northern, central, and southern New Jersey), with a one-year Phase I planning stage and a five-year Phase II implementation stage

Participating districts may receive planning grants up to $50,000 to cover data collection, public outreach, and community meetings, with the State paying additional feasibility study costs

Voters in each constituent municipality must approve Phase II participation, and the State will provide incentive aid to equalize costs among municipalities and support initial regionalization expenses

Appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to finance the pilot program grants