A5461

An Act establishing a pilot program for speech and debate programs in public schools, and making an appropriation.

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

1 The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. Speech and debate programs in public schools cultivate engaged, thoughtful citizens through the development and honing of skills such as argumentation, research, and public speaking.

b. Creating active, informed citizens is imperative to the health of a democratic society. However, the Annenberg Public Policy Center reports that American knowledge of civics is concerningly lacking, with one in six Americans being unable to name any of the three branches of the United States government. In a recent administration of the National Assessment for Educational Progress Civics Assessment to eighth grade students nationwide, only 20 percent of students demonstrated proficiency in their understanding of civics.

c. Speech and debate programs allow students to explore sophisticated ideas with their peers firsthand and to be engaged and informed in productive conversations about important philosophical and real-world questions, ideas, and challenges.

d. Costs related to speech and debate programs in public schools, while modest compared to many other extracurricular programs, can be prohibitive to schools and students. Support is needed to help share the costs related to staffing speech and debate programs and for supporting schools, students, and parents in meeting the entry fees and travel costs associated with attendance in debate tournaments.

2. As used in this act, "public school" means a school located in New Jersey, under collegiate grade, which is operated by a school district, a charter school established pursuant to P.L.1995, c.426 (C.18A:36A-1 et seq.), or a renaissance school project established pursuant to P.L.2011, c.176 (C.18A:36C-1 et seq.).

3. a. The Commissioner of Education shall establish a three-year pilot program for the implementation of the New Jersey Civics and Debate Initiative. The purpose of the pilot program shall be to increase the availability and quality of speech and debate programs in public schools.

b. The pilot program shall provide, through dedicated staff of the Department of Education, technical support to public schools interested in developing new speech and debate programs or expanding existing programs. Additionally, department staff shall designate regional speech and debate ambassadors throughout the State. Department staff and regional ambassadors shall work collaboratively to manage and grow participation in speech and debate programs in their respective regions.

c. The commissioner shall establish a grant program as part of the pilot program for the purpose of establishing new speech and debate programs in select public schools and to grow and improve existing programs.

4. a. A public school that wishes to participate in the grant program established pursuant to section 3 of this act shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Education in a manner and on such forms as determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall establish the application deadlines for each school year.

b. The commissioner shall establish selection criteria for the awarding of grants under the program.

c. The commissioner shall award grants under the program based upon review of the applications and subject to the limit of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the program. The commissioner shall establish the amount of each grant awarded and may establish different tier levels for the grants based on applicant need.

d. A grant recipient may use the funds for:

(1) the purchase of needed materials and resources for speech and debate programs;

(2) staffing costs and training opportunities and resources for speech and debate program coaches and advisors;

(3) event and tournament costs, including but not limited to, entry fees, judging fees, chaperone fees, transportation costs, and hotel or other accommodation costs; or

(4) any other purpose specified by the commissioner.

5. Upon the conclusion of the pilot program, the Commissioner of Education shall report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the feasibility of continuing or expanding the program.

6. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Education the sum of $4,500,000 to effectuate the purposes of this act.

7. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the New Jersey Civics and Debate Initiative in public schools and appropriates $4.5 million for the initiative’s purposes.

The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a three-year pilot program for the implementation of the New Jersey Civics and Debate Initiative. The purpose of the pilot program is to increase the availability and quality of speech and debate programs in public schools.

The pilot program will provide, through dedicated staff of the Department of Education, technical support to public schools interested in developing new speech and debate programs or expanding existing programs. Additionally, department staff will designate regional speech and debate ambassadors throughout the State. Department staff and regional ambassadors will work collaboratively to manage and grow participation in speech and debate programs.

Additionally, the pilot program will include a grant program for the purpose of establishing new speech and debate programs in select public schools and to grow and improve existing programs. Under the bill, a public school selected for a grant, following application to the commissioner, may use the funds for:

(1) the purchase of needed materials and resources for speech and debate programs;

(2) staffing costs and training opportunities and resources for speech and debate program coaches and advisors;

(3) event and tournament costs, including but not limited to, entry fees, judging fees, chaperone fees, transportation costs, and hotel or other accommodation costs; or

(4) any other purpose specified by the commissioner.

The bill requires the commissioner to report to the Governor and the Legislature on the feasibility of continuing or expanding the program at the conclusion of the pilot program.

Finally, the bill appropriates $4.5 million to the Department of Education to effectuate the bill’s purposes.