Education Legislation Moves in Senate Ed Committee

Education Legislation Moves
in Senate Ed Committee

The Senate Education Committee was slated on Thursday to discuss—and likely release for a vote by the full Senate—the following bills:

State Board Appeals S-1912/A-45 would eliminate the role of the State Board of Education in appeals of Commissioner of Education decisions in disputes arising under the State school laws. Currently, commissioner decisions are appealed to the State Board before going to the appellate court. NJSBA is concerned the bill would send more legal matters directly to the courts, a process that tends to be more expensive and could drive up districts’ legal costs.
Unilateral Regulations S-1911 authorizes the state education commissioner to unilaterally create regulations to implement aspects of accountability statutes. NJSBA opposes the bill, which would bypass the State Board of Education’s role in publicly vetting the proposed regulations before they are implemented.
Twins S-1544 would allow parents, not schools, to determine whether their twin children (or triplets, etc.) should be placed in the same classroom. If the situation is disruptive to the classroom, the principal could consult with the parents and teachers and then ask the school board to make the final determination regarding placement of the children. The full Assembly has passed its version of the bill, A-1671.
Bus Radios S-510 requires each school bus to have two-way communications equipment. Each district and bus contractor would be reimbursed through the state Department of Education.
Background Checks S-110 requires criminal background checks for school employees who were “grandfathered” from the 1986 law calling for background checks (employees working at that time were not required to undergo the checks). It also calls for checks of employees of contracted service providers who have pupil contact.

Thursday is the final day the Senate Education Committee is slated to meet until fall, when the Legislature’s summer recess ends. June 26 is the last scheduled date for the full Senate before the summer recess.