S3309

An Act establishing the “Remote Instruction and School Curriculum Adjustment Study Commission” to review the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and make recommendations to ensure that students utilizing remote instruction can meet curriculum standards.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. There is established the “Remote Instruction and School Curriculum Adjustment Study Commission.” The commission shall consist of 13 members, including:

a. the Commissioner of Education, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio;

b. one member appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, both of whom shall be members of the public with demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the commission;

c. one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, both of whom shall be members of the public with demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the commission; and

d. eight members appointed by the Governor, including one representative from each of the following: the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; the New Jersey Education Association; the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey; the New Jersey School Boards Association; the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; a public school teacher who teaches at a school which utilizes remote instruction, or a combination of in-person and remote instruction; and two parents or guardians of students enrolled in a public school which utilizes remote instruction, or a combination of in-person and remote instruction.

2. All appointments shall be made within 30 days of the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funds made available to the commission for its purposes.

3. The commission shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members, but not later than 60 days after the effective date of this act. The commission shall choose a chairperson from among its members and shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.

4. It shall be the duty of the commission to review the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and identify areas where the curriculum in grades kindergarten through 12 may need to be modified to reflect the increased difficulties students face in meeting the curriculum standards when a school district utilizes remote instruction, or a combination of in-person and remote instruction. The commission shall review and consider topics including, but not limited to:

a. assessing the specific remote instruction application or platform utilized by school districts, including an analysis on:

(1) how assignments and documents are managed;

(2) interfacing with teachers and other students; and

(3) accessing school announcements;

b. assessing student access to the technological devices and reliable, high-speed Internet required for the delivery of a remote instruction program;

c. assessing the challenges to supporting students with disabilities with specialized instruction, related services, and other supports in the remote instruction environment;

d. identifying subject areas where students are most likely to have difficulty in meeting the current curriculum standards as established for elementary school students, middle school students, and high school students; and

e. developing recommendations to ensure that students who have fallen behind in their ability to meet the current curriculum standards receive the programs and services required to meet those standards.

5. The Department of Education shall provide such stenographical, clerical, and other administrative assistants, and such professional staff as the commission requires to carry out its work. The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available for its purposes.

6. The commission shall issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), and to the State Board of Education no later than six months after the commission organizes.

7. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the commission’s issuance of its final report and recommendations.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the “Remote Instruction and School Curriculum Adjustment Study Commission.” The commission will be composed of 13 members, including: the Commissioner of Education, or a designee; one member appointed by the President of the Senate, one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, all four of whom are members of the public with demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the commission; and eight members appointed by the Governor, including one representative from each of the following: the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; the New Jersey Education Association; the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey; the New Jersey School Boards Association; the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; a public school teacher who teaches at a school which utilizes remote instruction, or a combination of in-person and remote instruction; and two parents or guardians of students enrolled in a public school which utilizes remote instruction, or a combination of in-person and remote instruction.

Under the bill, the commission will review the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and identify areas where the curriculum in grades kindergarten through 12 may need to be modified to reflect the increased difficulties students face in meeting the curriculum standards when a school district utilizes remote instruction, or a combination of in-person and remote instruction. The commission will review and consider topics including, but not limited to:

· assessing the specific remote instruction application or platform utilized by school districts, including an analysis on:

how assignments and documents are managed; interfacing with teachers and other students; and accessing school announcements;

· assessing student access to the technological devices and reliable, high-speed Internet required for the delivery of a remote instruction program;

· assessing the challenges to supporting students with disabilities with specialized instruction, related services, and other supports in the remote instruction environment;

· identifying subject areas where students are most likely to have difficulty in meeting the current curriculum standards as established for elementary school students, middle school students, and high school students; and

· developing recommendations to ensure that students who have fallen behind in their ability to meet the current curriculum standards receive the programs and services required to meet those standards.

The bill directs the commission to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature, and to the State Board of Education no later than six months after the commission organizes.