The NJ State Senate
The Senate met on Friday, February 19th for a Voting Session. Among the bills on the agenda were the following education related measures:
S-2834 This bill provides that, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, all candidates for teaching certification who have completed an educator preparation program at a commissioner-approved educator preparation program provider must have satisfactorily completed a course or training on culturally responsive teaching.
This bill provides that, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, all candidates for teaching certification who have completed an educator preparation program at a commissioner-approved educator preparation program provider must have satisfactorily completed a course or training on culturally responsive teaching.
The bill further requires that all commissioner-approved educator preparation program providers review and update their educator preparation programs to implement the bill’s requirements and submit the revisions to the Department of Education for approval.
The bill defines “culturally responsive teaching” to mean: a pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students’ cultural references in all aspects of learning, and which uses research-based teaching strategies that make meaningful connections between what students learn in school and their cultures, languages, and experiences.
S-2834 was passed by the Senate today by a vote of 24-7.
S-3033 Establishes School and Small Business Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program in BPU. The purpose of the program is to ensure that school and small business heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are upgraded to safely prepare schools and small businesses for operating during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic and to generally improve the health and safety of the school and small business environment. The program will also fund the upgrading of old, inefficient plumbing fixtures that waste water and energy. Further, this bill is intended to create jobs across the State. The bill provides that the program is to consist of the following sub-programs:
1 The School and Small Business Ventilation and Energy Efficiency Verification and Repair (SSBVEEVR) Program; and
2 The School and Small Business Noncompliant Plumbing Fixture and Appliance (SSBNPFA) Program.
S-3033 was passed by the Senate today by a vote of 24-9.
On deck:
Governor Phil Murphy
Governor Phil Murphy will deliver his Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Address on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:00 PM. The Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Address will be pre-recorded and streamed on the Governor’s official Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages, as well as via LiveU Matrix.
The New Jersey General Assembly
The Assembly Education Committee will meet Monday morning. Their agenda includes three bills:
A-4859 This bill provides that beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, all candidates for teaching certification who have completed an educator preparation program at a commissioner-approved educator preparation program provider must have satisfactorily completed a course or training on remote teaching that includes, but is not limited to, information on:
(1) revising curriculum for an online platform;
(2) the most effective tools available for content delivery;
(3) creating opportunities for student engagement and discussion;
(4) building and sustaining community and connection with, and among, students; and
(5) delivering assessments online and monitoring academic progress.
The bill also provides that all commissioner-approved educator preparation program providers review and update their educator preparation programs to implement the bill’s requirements and submit the revisions to the Department of Education for approval.
A-5007 This bill directs the Department of Education (DOE) to compile a list of professional development programs for teachers and school leaders on the topic of virtual and remote instruction. The DOE will make the list available on its Internet website within 30 days of enactment of this bill.
Under the bill, school districts will be required to ensure that their teachers and school leaders complete one of the professional development programs on the list compiled by the DOE within 60 days following the publication of the list on the DOE’s Internet website. The bill allows a district to receive a waiver from the DOE to use a professional development program other than one of the DOE’s selections, provided that the district can demonstrate that it is a comparable program.
NJPSA is seeking amendments to this bill.
S-1790/A-1662 Revises provisions required in school district’s anti-bullying policy; provides for civil liability of parent of minor adjudicated delinquent for cyber-harassment or harassment; and increases certain fines against parents.
After nearly 18 months of discussions and amendments, NJPSA was able to support S-1790/A-1662 which proposes to make significant changes to the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights if enacted. The measure modifies criminal statutes to increase fines for parents or guardians for failure to comply with a court-ordered class or training on cyberbullying. Currently, parents or guardians of a minor under the age of 16 who has been adjudicated delinquent of cyber-harassment face fines from $25 to $100 for failure to attend classes with their child, and the bill would raise the penalties to $100 to $500. Parents could also be liable under a civil suit.
With respect to school bullying investigations, the bill seeks to strengthen school accountability through a structured system of reporting, recording, tracking and investigating HIB in schools. The bill clarifies the investigatory structure, the consequences for HIB and creates the position of School Climate State Coordinator within the NJDOE to serve as a resource for students, parents and educators .
Finally, the bill proposes to fund the Bullying Prevention Fund and this newly created NJDOE position.
If you have any questions or would like more information about any of the bills that advanced this week, or any other items under consideration by the New Jersey Legislature, please do not hesitate to reach out to your NJPSA Government Relations Team at any time. Director Debra Bradley Esq. at dbradley@njpsa.org or Assistant Director Jennie Lamon @ jlamon@njpsa.org. Please stay safe and healthy. Thank you for all that you do!