At its June meeting, the New Jersey State Board of Education heard updates and acted on the following items:
Anniversary of NJASBO The State Board of Education recognized the 100th anniversary of the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials. In its resolution, the board noted that NJASBO was founded in 1923 with a goal of serving the education community of the Garden State by promoting better business practices through the highest standards of ethics and efficiency, providing its membership with professional development and support, and collaborating with entities that affect public education. Collectively, the school business administrators in New Jersey are responsible for the management of over $33 billion in expenditures.
New Jersey Partnership for Student Success Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, the acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, updated the board on the New Jersey Partnership for Student Success. First, the NJDOE surveyed New Jersey to learn what services districts need. The results of the survey showed that the largest area of need was tutoring services. The NJDOE has developed a database of volunteers to match them with district needs; the department is still seeking additional volunteers. To find out more about volunteer opportunities, contact the NJDOE.
Special Education The State Board continued discussions on rules that would clarify that physical therapy may be provided by physical therapy assistants under the supervision of a certified physical therapist. Additionally, the board discussed rules to allow for the provision of related services through telemedicine or telehealth, or through electronic communications, which include virtual, remote, or other online platforms, as appropriate and as required by the student’s IEP. Additionally, the proposal sets forth the conditions for when related services can be provided to a student with a disability who is unable to attend school due to a temporary or chronic medical condition, or when a school building or school district is closed or/and the school district has implemented its program of virtual or remote instruction, or the student requires a mandatory period of isolation/quarantine for at least five days because the student has contracted a communicable disease or has been exposed to a communicable disease.