Ruiz, Jasey Help Steer NJ's New School Civics Law To Finish Line

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — New Jersey is one of the few states that don’t require middle school students to take lessons in how the U.S. government works. But that’s about to change under a new law that two legislators from Essex County helped to steer to the finish line.

On Friday, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill that requires civics instruction at the middle school level. Each local board of education will be required to provide a course at the “appropriate grade level” starting with the 2022-2023 school year.

Known as “Laura Wooten’s Law,” the bill was named in honor of the longest continuously serving poll worker in American history, Laura Wooten, who worked polls in New Jersey for 79 years before passing away in 2019.

Civics — the studies of the rights and obligations of citizens in society, such as voting, serving on juries and being active in their communities — will become part of the social studies curriculum in middle school and will be emphasized in high school, under the new law.

The law also directs the New Jersey Center for Civic Education at Rutgers University to prepare curriculum guidelines and provide professional development for high school teachers, integrating civics, economics and the history of New Jersey into United States history courses.

• See related article: Civics Lessons Will Start In Middle School Under New NJ Law

Two of the state lawmakers involved in the effort, Sen. Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey – both of whom represent towns in Essex County – released statements of support after Murphy signed the bills into law.

“This law will help to develop critical thinkers with a global understanding of their agency to bring about change, through the channels of government and the power of assembly,” said Ruiz, the chair of the Senate Education Committee.

“These civics courses will not only teach kids how the government works, they will also emphasize the importance of being an engaged citizen and explain how everyone has the ability to impact the future of our country,” added Ruiz, who represents Newark and Belleville in the state’s 29th district.

“Youth activists and recent protests have made it clear anyone, at any age, can make their voice heard and influence public policy,” Ruiz concluded.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN: ‘INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION’

Jasey, who represents the state’s 27th district, issued a joint statement with the bill’s other sponsors in the Assembly, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Linda Carter.

They wrote:

“By definition, civics is the study of the rights and obligations of citizens in society. It is critical that we teach young people to understand their role in their communities and our democracy so that they have the tools they need to be well-informed, active citizens. The social studies curriculum in our schools currently focuses on a chronological history of the United States. In a country built on the engagement of ordinary citizens, civics must play a central role in our students’ education. Requiring civics lessons in our schools will inspire the next generation to appreciate and participate in our democracy.”

The 27th district includes the following municipalities in Essex and Morris counties: Caldwell, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Essex Fells, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Livingston, Madison, Maplewood, Millburn, Roseland, South Orange, West Orange.

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