NJ S4008

School districts with high schools, charter schools, and renaissance school projects enrolling grades 9-12 must partner with labor union apprenticeship programs in their county to expose students to apprenticeship opportunities.

Partnerships must distribute career pathway information to all 11th and 12th grade students and develop a career exploration program with a minimum of 25 hours of programming.

Career exploration programs must include structured orientation sessions covering career pathways, salary potential, and job security, plus practical experiences such as hands-on skill building or simulator-based training.

Each school board must ensure at least 2% of its graduating 12th grade class completes the career exploration program and submit annual compliance reports to the Commissioner of Education.

Implementation costs may be funded through State aid, federal grants, workforce development funding, and private sponsorships, with the Commissioners of Education and Labor requesting necessary budget appropriations annually.