Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman MARLENE CARIDE
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidance on identifying English language learners for gifted and talented programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning students who are English language learners and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Education shall develop guidance for school districts concerning the identification of English language learners for gifted and talented programs. The purposes and objectives of the guidance shall be to:
(1) assist school districts in identifying English language learners in grades kindergarten through 12 who are gifted and talented so that they may be matched with programs that will help them achieve in accordance with their full capabilities; and
(2) provide guidelines on appropriate identification methods that may help reduce the underrepresentation of English language learners in gifted and talented programs.
b. The guidance developed by the commissioner shall include, but not be limited to, information on: recognizing and addressing potential challenges in the process of identifying English language learners who are gifted and talented; the use of multiple methods and measures in assessing the eligibility of English language learners for gifted and talented programs; and the importance of collaboration among teachers in the identification process, including teachers of English language learner programs, teachers of gifted and talented programs, and general classroom teachers.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to develop guidance for school districts regarding the identification of English language learners for gifted and talented programs. The purpose of the guidance is to: (1) assist districts in identifying English language learners in grades kindergarten through 12 who are gifted and talented in order to match them with programs that will help them achieve in accordance with their full capabilities; and (2) provide guidelines on appropriate identification methods that may help reduce the underrepresentation of English language learners in gifted and talented programs.
The bill provides that the guidance will include, but not be limited to, information on the following: recognizing and addressing potential challenges in the process of identifying English language learners who are gifted and talented; the use of multiple methods and measures in assessing the eligibility of English language learners for gifted and talented programs; and the importance of collaboration among teachers in the identification process.