New jersey high school students could get gym credits for being volunteer firefighters under proposed law

New Jersey high school students could get gym credits for being volunteer firefighters under proposed law

Posted by
1 min read
March 3, 2026

Legislation introduced in Trenton would allow certain students to earn graduation credits by completing a county fire academy course and volunteering locally.

New Jersey, NJ – A newly introduced bill in the New Jersey Senate would permit high school students to earn credit toward graduation requirements in health, safety, and physical education by completing a county fire academy course under specific conditions.

Senate Bill S1343, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-26) and Sen. Anthony M. Bucco (R-25), has been pre-filed for the 2026–2027 legislative session and is pending technical review by Legislative Counsel.


Key Points

  • S1343 would allow fire academy training to count toward graduation credits
  • Applies to students ages 16 to 18 who meet specific criteria
  • Requires two-year volunteer commitment at local fire department

Graduation credit tied to training and service

Under the proposal, a student who successfully completes a course at a county fire academy would be eligible to receive credit toward high school graduation requirements for health, safety, and physical education, consistent with state regulations.

To qualify, the student must be between the ages of 16 and 18, complete an examination required to become a junior firefighter or hold an equivalent position, and commit to volunteer for two years with the fire department that serves the municipality in which the student resides.

The bill specifies that completion of the fire academy course and volunteer commitment would not automatically fulfill requirements to become a member of a Junior Firefighter’s Auxiliary established under state law.

Implementation timeline

If enacted, the legislation would take effect immediately and first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.

Supporters of the measure say it is intended to recognize hands-on public safety training while encouraging youth participation in volunteer fire service across New Jersey communities.

More firefighting news

    Tags: New Jersey, New Jersey Senate, fire academy, high school graduation, volunteer firefighters

    Phil Stilton

    Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

    As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

    With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

    Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

    Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

    Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

    Facebook

    Don't Miss