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STATE BOARD ACTS ON
STATE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS
The State Board of Education voted on March 5th
to approve New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Commissioner
William Librera’s recommendation that Dr. Edwin Duroy be reappointed to
another term as State District Superintendent for Paterson.
Commissioner Librera announced that he was not prepared
to make a recommendation for the Newark state school superintendent
position. In a statement, the State Board of Education encouraged the
Commissioner to take the time needed to base his recommendation on a
thorough and complete review of the appointment.
The new term for the Newark superintendent is scheduled to commence
on July 1, 2003.
PROPOSALS TO SUPPORT STUDENT
DEVELOPMENT ADVANCES
Amendments to two programs to support student
development were approved for publication at the proposal level in the
New Jersey Register by the State Board of Education. The first proposal,
amendments to N.J.A.C. 6A-16-5, would allow a scoliosis (curvature of
the spine) examination every two years instead of annually.
Also approved for publication were amendments to N.J.A.C.
6A:16-2.2 which would add procedures to deal with falsification of
school annual violence and vandalism reports.
Both proposals, as amended, are intended to comply with existing
state statutes.
The economic impact statement in the first proposal
states that the amendments will benefit districts by decreasing the costs
involved with administering the scoliosis examination.
Amendments concerning falsification of school annual violence and
vandalism reports are intended to save local school districts monies related
to potential lawsuits filed by non-tenured employees due to a lack of a
uniform disciplinary procedures.
BILINGUAL CODE READOPTION IS PROPOSED
The State Board approved, at the proposal level
publication in the New Jersey Register of readoption and amendments
to the Bilingual Education Code, N.J.A.C. 6A:15.
At this time, only one substantial amendment is being proposed in
accordance with a provision in the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
This amendment would strengthen provisions to assess students enrolled in
the bilingual English as a Second Language (ESL) or English language
services program by requiring that students are specifically assessed on
English language proficiency goals annually, as well as on their readiness
for exiting the program.
According to the NJDOE, this proposed amendment will assist districts in
adjusting to new federal standards in a timely way.
The NJDOE still awaits formal guidance from the federal Department of
Education (USDOE) for significant provisions of the federal (NCLB) Act.
When USDOE completes its
work, additional amendments may be proposed by the NJDOE.
BOARD DECLINES TO ACT ON RESOLUTION OF INTENT
TO STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENT CODE
Commissioner
Librera recommended that the State Board of Education consider a resolution
of intent to amend the Standards and Assessment Code.
However, the State Board unanimously voted to delay action on the
resolution without further discussion.
The proposed resolution would modify graduation requirements to
establish a five-credit visual, performing and/or practical arts requirement
beginning with the 2003-2004 grade nine class.
The draft
resolution would also amend the 10-credit world language requirement to a
five-credit requirement, effective with the 2003-2004 grade nine class.
Requirements of five credits in technological literacy, career
education and life skills, including career/technical arts, or
vocational-technical education, effective with the 2003-2004 grade nine
class are also proposed in the draft resolution. According to State Board
President Maud Dahme, the board would revisit the resolution after a more
thorough discussion of the extensive revision of the Standards and
Assessment Code under consideration.
The state board conducted a short discussion on some aspects of the
proposed code. Further discussion is expected at the April meeting, with tentative
publication at the proposal level in May and final adoption in October.
NO ACTION TAKEN ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE
AND STANDARDS CODE
The State Board is currently reviewing aspects of
comprehensive revisions to the Professional Licensure and Standards code,
including repeal of existing N.J.A.C. 6:11 and adoption of a new
chapter, N.J.A.C. 6A:9.
The comprehensive 124-page revision to the code comes as a result of
the Governor’s Executive Order 22 of 1994, which directed the NJDOE to
conduct a comprehensive review and identify rules that were overly
prescriptive, outdated or created high cost and low benefit to all affected
by the regulations.
The proposed new chapter would:
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Establish standards for teachers, nurses, administrators, educational
services certification, state board of examiners and other school leaders
as the basis for college preparation programs, mentoring programs and
professional development.
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Tighten certification requirements to ensure that teacher preparation
programs train teacher candidates and existing teachers for the specific
subjects they will be required to teach.
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Clarify and create a coherent path of teacher training and career
enrichment from teacher preparation courses for prospective teachers to
professional development requirements for existing teachers.
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Ensure that the state complies with provisions of the federal NCLB act
that affects teacher credentials.
Three regional public hearings will be scheduled around
the state in the coming months. The current code expires in January 2004.
The NJDOE is recommending adoption of the new code in December 2003, with
publication at the proposal level in August 2003.
PROCESS FOR CERTIFICATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
UNDER REVIEW
The NJDOE has proposed amendments to rules that govern
the Evaluation of the Performance of School Districts, N.J.A.C. 6A:30
to ensure consistency with existing state statutes. The proposal would
establish the process for evaluation of districts to determine
certifications. These include full seven-year certifications, conditional
certifications, Level II evaluations, Level III evaluations, comprehensive
compliance investigations and corrective actions through further
intervention. Changes to the
code are intended to also clarify the appeal process.
“There are several inconsistencies in the current rules that need to
be clarified," said NJDOE
Assistant Commissioner Richard Ten Eyck.
The State Board review process is still underway. Current rules are
scheduled to sunset in May 2005.
STATE BOARD BEGINS CONSIDERATION OF CHANGES TO RULES
THAT GOVERN SCHOOL PHYSICALS
The State Board held no discussion on a proposal
introduced by the department to change rules that govern school physicals.
NJDOE Chief of Staff, Gloria Hancock introduced the changes to
procedures for sports physical examinations and student medical reports.
“The department is proposing rules (N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2) to
better reflect the intent of the department and the state board,” said
Hancock. In November 2002, the
NJDOE issued a code clarification to provide guidance to local school
districts regarding the use of medical homes for student sports physicals.
The changes are intended to codify that guidance.
These amendments would revise the requirement for
medical examinations and provide a choice by the parent or guardian of a
school physician or a private physician for a sports physical examination.
Procedures governing the student’s medical report are also included
to clarify the role of school nurses. The proposal denotes the original
examining physician as the appropriate party responsible for a completion of
a medical report.
In November 2002, the NJSBA Legislative Committee voted
to support amendments to the code that would eliminate the current
requirement that school physician’s sign-off on physicals conducted by
another physician.
BOARD FAILS TO VOTE ON RESOLUTION FOR
UTILITY FUNDS
Commissioner Librera presented a resolution to the
state board to approve $4 million in donations from some state utilities, as
a result of a stipulation of a settlement before the New Jersey Board of
Public Utilities.
Provisions in the resolution include:
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$1 million from Jersey Central Power and Light would be restricted to
technology grants to schools and libraries in the utilities’ service area
that the department determines as deficient.
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$500,000 from El Paso Merchant Energy would be restricted to restricted to
technology grants to schools and libraries in the utilities’ service area
that the department determines as deficient.
Of this, $100,000 would be dedicated to schools and libraries in
Gloucester County.
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$1 million from Atlantic City Electric to use as the Commissioner sees fit
in Atlantic’s service territory.
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$1 million from New Jersey American Water Company with no restrictions or
conditions on the funds.
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$500,000 from Elizabethtown Gas Company with no restrictions or conditions
on the funds.
A portion of the unrestricted funds would go to the
Governor’s School of Excellence and higher education institutions that
propose innovative ways to work with school districts.
After some discussion, the Board requested greater
clarification on use of the funds, specifically the unrestricted funds,
before authorizing acceptance.
Under statute, the State Board’s authorization is required in order for the
Commissioner of Education to accept donated funds.
THIRTY EIGHT DISTRICTS RECEIVE FULL
CERTIFICATION
Full seven-year certification was granted to
thirty-eight districts for having met the qualifications in N.J.A.C.
6A:30, “Evaluation of the Performance of School Districts,” and the
Manual for the Evaluation of Local School Districts:
Atlantic
County: Greater Egg Harbor Regional; Mainland Regional and Mullica
Township
Bergen
County: Demarest, East Rutherford, Franklin Lakes, Leonia, Montvale,
Oakland, Pascack Valley Regional, Saddle Brook, Saddle River, Waldwick,
Woodcliff Lake and Wyckoff
Burlington
County: Medford Township and Mount Laurel Township
Cape May
County: Lower Township and Stone Harbor
Essex
County: Livingston and South Orange-Maplewood
Mercer
County: Lawrence Township and Princeton Regional
Middlesex
County: East Brunswick, Metuchen and Monroe Township
Monmouth
County: Colts Neck, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional and Shrewsbury
Morris
County: Kinnelon and Morris Plains
Ocean
County: Plumsted Township
Sussex
County: Green Township, Newton, Sandyston-Walpack Township, Sussex
County Vocational
Warren
County: Hackettstown and Hope Township
TWO DISTRICTS GRANTED CERTIFICATION
WITH CONDITIONS
Based on the county superintendent’s recommendation,
Commissioner Librera reported that the following districts could correct
identified deficiencies without additional diagnostic monitoring or
technical assistance in this fiscal year.
The board approved the commissioner’s recommendation for conditional
certification.
Union
County: Hillside and Mountainside
Upcoming State Board Meeting Dates
3/19/03 Public Hearing Session
4/2/03 Public Business Meeting
4/16/03 Public Hearing Session |
