Legislative Update

Tax Cap Bill Still Awaits Action

Uniform Kindergarten Admission

The Assembly on March 15 passed legislation, A-884, that would establish Oct. 1 as the statewide eligibility date for admission to kindergarten. Under the proposal, school districts could only admit to kindergarten children who have reached age 5 before Oct. 1. Currently, some districts have other cut-off dates. A-884 also authorizes local boards of education to create policies to admit children who have not reached age 5 by Oct. 1, if the board determines that the child is ready for admission to kindergarten. NJSBA policy supports the ability of school boards to provide early admission to kindergarten for qualified students. Status: Moves to Senate.
Gifted and Talented Month

The state Legislature has designated March as Gifted and Talented Students Month in New Jersey. SJR-24/AJR-131, which gained final approval last Thursday, aims to raise public awareness of the needs of gifted children, so that they could be identified early and matched with an instruction program that nurtures their abilities.
Student Pedestrian Safety

On March 15, the Assembly gave final legislative approval to S-1079/A-2026, which would establish motor vehicle penalties, including fines, for drivers who violate school crossing guard directions. Status: Advances to the governor.
Sudden Cardiac Death

S-332/A-2999 would require the state Department of Education to publish a pamphlet informing the parents of student athletes about sudden cardiac death. The pamphlet would be distributed through schools at no cost to districts. It would include an explanation of sudden cardiac death, its incidence among student athletes, early warning signs, and privately available screening options. Status: Moves to the Senate for concurrence on Assembly amendments.
Abbott Funding

The Joint Committee on the Public Schools is scheduled to conduct a hearing March 26 on the impact of state aid recommendations on Abbott school districts. Superintendents are expected to speak about the impact of current state funding figures and past aid freezes.