Measures to boost N.J. job-training initiatives now up to Christie

The New Jersey Senate has given final approval to a package of bills meant to enhance vocational education.

 

The bills will help ensure students who don’t go to college get the technical expertise needed for a good job, said Sen. Teresa Ruiz.

“There is a unique bill in there, which I think is extraordinary. That’s offsite training that will provide for a corporation to do what a county vocational school can do,” said Ruiz, D-Essex. “To me, there’s training, there’s education, and there’s huge potential for employment at the end of that program.”

The measures also require the annual school report card issued by the state education commissioner to include indicators of student career readiness.

The goal is to align the training students receive with the future needs of employers, Ruiz said.

There’s no indication whether Gov. Chris Christie will sign the bills into law.