On behalf of our member companies that make NJBIA the largest, most impactful association representing job creators in New Jersey, we support Senate bill S-1773 (Singleton/McKnight), which would require school report cards to include information about placement of graduates, including apprenticeships. We also support an amendment to include placement of graduates in workforce training programs as a recognized postsecondary outcome.
As currently drafted, the bill appropriately expands the information required to be captured in school report cards to reflect what happens to students after graduation, but New Jersey’s talent pipeline extends well beyond traditional college enrollment or registered apprenticeships.
High-quality workforce training programs—offered through county colleges, vocational schools, nonprofit providers, and employer-led partnerships—are often the fastest and most effective pathway into in-demand jobs. Recognizing placement into these programs validates the real-world outcomes that high schools are increasingly working to deliver and aligns accountability metrics with today’s labor market.
For high schools, this broader definition of placement incentivizes stronger partnerships with employers and training providers, supports career and technical education, and reflects the full range of options available to students. For graduates, it affirms that choosing a skills-based pathway is not a lesser outcome, but a credible, valued route to economic mobility.
From the perspective of the business community, transparent reporting on workforce training placement helps align education systems with labor demand and strengthens New Jersey’s competitiveness. With a modest amendment, S-1773 can better capture success, expand opportunity, and reflect how students truly move from classroom to career.
NJBIA thanks you all for consideration of our perspective on this bill. Please email me at aford@njbia.org if you have any questions about our position.
