ASSEMBLY, No. 4646

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires State Board of Education to evaluate historical events for inclusion in New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning the New Jersey Student Learning Standards 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.  No later than July 15, 2023, the State Board of Education shall review and update the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies to ensure the incorporation of instruction on recent historical events in an appropriate place in the curriculum for students in grades kindergarten through 12. The board shall consider the addition of standards pertaining to the events surrounding September 11, 2001, and any other events of historical significance that the board deems appropriate. The board shall adhere to the review and readoption process for the New Jersey Student Learning Standards established pursuant to regulations of the State Board of Education. The board shall provide members of the public with the opportunity to comment in person or to submit written comments regarding the update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies required pursuant to this subsection.

     b.  Following the update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the board shall consider the addition of any further historical events to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards concurrent with each update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards required pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2007, c.270 (C.18A:7F-46).

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires the State Board of Education to review and update, no later than July 15, 2023, the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies to ensure the incorporation of instruction on recent historical events in an appropriate place in the curriculum for students in grades kindergarten through 12. The board would be required to consider the addition of standards pertaining to the events surrounding September 11, 2001, and any other events of historical significance that the board deems appropriate. The board would be required to adhere to the review and readoption process for the New Jersey Student Learning Standards established pursuant to regulations of the State Board of Education. The board will provide members of the public with the opportunity to comment in person or to submit written comments regarding the update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies required pursuant to the provisions of the bill.

     Under current State regulation, recommended changes to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards are presented by the Commissioner of Education to the State Board of Education at a public meeting of the board. Pursuant to the current State regulation, the board adopts the New Jersey Student Learning Standards after conducting public hearings on the commissioner’s recommendations.

     Finally, the bill requires the board to consider the addition of any further historical events to the Student Learning Standards concurrent with each scheduled update to the Student Learning Standards.