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Leader in Education
“I have always believed that young people should have every possible opportunity to further their education,” states Assemblyman Diegnan, who chairs the Assembly Higher Education Committee. “Any student who qualifies can receive a free education at their local county college and reduced tuition at any NJ four-year public college. This is government at its best using its resources to ensure that the next generation has every opportunity to succeed and that New Jersey talent will remain in New Jersey.”
In 2008, Assemblyman Diegnan was awarded the New Jersey Association of County Colleges Legislator of the Year award. Most recently he was honored at the NJ Stars Scholars awards ceremony by NJ Stars scholars for his dedication to improving higher education in New Jersey. For more information on NJ Stars visit the website at www.njstars.org
Legislation As Chairman of the Assembly Education Committee, I am a strong proponent of making our education system in New Jersey the best it can be. The essential foundation for our State’s success is a quality education for every child from pre-school through college. I have led the way in requiring that our colleges be more accountable to government and ultimately the students and their families. I have enacted legislation that helps families pay for higher education, and I have been an ardent participant in the school funding formula debate which has led to increased state aid for education in our district. New Jersey has one of the top high school graduation rates in the country and ranks fifth for college attainment. We have a great education system, but we can be better. A500 – School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (Prime Sponsor) A3373 - NJ STARS Amendments (Prime Sponsor) In order to be eligible for the NJ STARS Program a high school student must graduate in the top 15.0% of the class as opposed to the current 20% requirement, and the student must also have completed a rigorous high school course of study in accordance with standards established by the Commission on Higher Education in consultation with the Commissioner of Education. A dependent child of a parent or guardian who has been transferred to a military installation located in the State will be considered a State resident for the purposes of qualifying for an NJ STARS scholarship. This same change is made under the NJ STARS II Program. In order to be eligible for NJ STARS II, an NJ STARS student must graduate from the county college with a cumulative grade point average of 3.25. Under current law an NJ STARS student is only required to attain a 3.0 grade point average in order to be eligible for the NJ STARS II Program. A2702 - NJ STARS Eligibility (Prime Sponsor) This bill provides that the board of education of a school district or the chief school administrator of a nonpublic school must notify certain students in the 11th and 12th grades that they may be eligible for the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) Program upon graduation from high school. Under the bill, all students in school districts and nonpublic schools are given information about NJ STARS. The districts/schools must also notify, in September, each 11th grade student who ranks in the top 25% of the class that he may qualify for the NJ STARS Program if his class rank upon high school graduation is within the top 15% of the class. This bill also requires school districts and nonpublic schools to notify, in January, each 12th grade student who is expected to be eligible for the NJ STARS Program upon high school graduation of his potential eligibility. A1650 - Gang Violence Prevention (Prime Sponsor) This bill requires each board of education that operates an educational program for elementary school students to offer instruction in gang violence prevention and in ways to avoid membership in gangs. A896 - Technology Education (Prime Sponsor) This bill directs the State Board of Education to authorize a technology education endorsement to the instructional certificate. This endorsement would allow the holder to teach technology education courses aligned to the core curriculum content standards and which reflect the standards for technology literacy published by the International Technology Education Association. The bill also directs the State board to issue an endorsement for industrial arts. This endorsement will authorize the holder to teach industrial arts courses, such as graphic arts, drafting, woodworking, metal working, and power mechanics. A2233 - Student Right of Refusal to Injure Animals as Part of Curriculum (Co-Sponsor) This bill provides that public school pupils may refuse to dissect, vivisect, incubate, capture or otherwise harm or destroy animals or any parts thereof as part of their course of instruction. Any pupil choosing not to participate in such activities must be provided with an alternative education project by the school for the purpose of providing the pupil with the factual knowledge, information or experience required by the course of study. The bill also provides that a pupil may not be discriminated against, in grading or otherwise, based upon his or her decision to exercise the rights afforded under the bill. S1192 NJ STARS (Co-Sponsor) This bill establishes the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) Program for students attending New Jersey county colleges on a full-time basis in a curriculum leading to a degree. Scholarships awarded under the program will cover the cost of tuition and fees for a full-time course load. The program will be administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. A2701 - Higher Education Private Public Partnership (Prime Sponsor) This bill provides for a tax credit under the corporation business tax for funds donated to support facilities construction, expansion, renovation and upgrade at New Jersey public and independent institutions of higher education. The credit will equal 5% of the amount donated to the institution for facilities support. The amount of the tax credit, in addition to any other credits received by the taxpayer, may not exceed 50% of the tax liability otherwise due. The purpose of this bill is to provide an incentive for private entities to partner with New Jersey public and independent colleges and universities on facilities construction and expansion. A3185 - Superintendant Contracts (Prime Sponsor) As amended, this bill requires the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the New Jersey School Boards Association and the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, to develop a model employment contract for superintendents of schools. The contract will address, but need not be limited to, the following aspects of employment: salary, health insurance, pension benefits, sick days, and vacation leave. The model contract must provide that salary, benefits, and other emoluments do not exceed those of similarly credentialed and experienced superintendents in other districts in the region with similar enrollment, academic achievement levels and challenges, and grade span. A3245 Higher Education Restructuring (Prime Sponsor) As amended, this bill makes various statutory changes to improve the structure, financing, and fiscal management of higher education in New Jersey. In addition, the bill includes numerous provisions that will improve the capacity of the Commission on Higher Education and the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority (EFA) to aid in the planning and development of higher education in New Jersey.
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As Chair of the Higher Education Committee in the General Assembly Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan sponsored the legislation which saved the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJSTARS). Governor Corzine signed the bill into law on 12/19/08. STARS I provides that any student graduating in the top 15% of their high school class can attend any of our two year county colleges free of charge. Under STARS II, upon graduation from a two year college with a culumative average of 3.25 or greater, that student can attend any of our four year public colleges and universities and recieve additional scholarships.
Assemblyman Diegnan was a sponsor of The School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (A500) which ended the Abbott school funding formula. As a result the schools of the 18th district have received over $14 million dollars in additional state aid over the last two years 