Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIK PETERSON
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Requires nonpublic school to forward student discipline records of students who transfer to public school.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain nonpublic school student records and supplementing chapter 36 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. As used in this section, “nonpublic school” means an elementary or secondary school within the State, other than a public school, offering education for grades kindergarten through 12, or any combination of them, wherein any child may legally fulfill compulsory school attendance requirements and which complies with the requirements of Title VI of the “Civil Rights Act of 1964,” Pub.L.88-352 (42 U.S.C. s.2000d et seq.).
b. (1) In the event that a student enrolled in a nonpublic school transfers to a public school, the chief school administrator of the nonpublic school shall, upon the written request of the school district to which the student is transferring, provide to the district, within 14 calendar days of the district’s request, all information in the student’s record related to disciplinary action taken against the student by the nonpublic school. The nonpublic school shall also notify the district, in writing, if it has obtained any information pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1982, c.79 (C.2A:4A-60) or section 1 of P.L.2009, c.157 (C.2C:43-5.1) within 14 calendar days of the district’s written request. If the school district does not receive those records, it shall use every available means to obtain the records.
(2) Written consent of the parent or adult student shall not be required as a condition of receipt of the information required to be provided pursuant to this section; however, written notice of the transfer shall be provided by the nonpublic school to the parent or adult student.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires a nonpublic school to forward to a school district the student disciplinary records of a nonpublic school student who transfers to the school district.
Under the bill, when a student enrolled in a nonpublic school transfers to a public school, upon the written request of the school district, the nonpublic school is to provide to the district, within 14 calendar days of the district’s request, all information in the student’s record related to disciplinary action taken against the student by the nonpublic school. The nonpublic school is also required to notify, within 14 calendar days of the school district’s written request, the district of any information the nonpublic school may have received from a court or a law enforcement or prosecuting agency in regard to any offense with which the student may have been charged. The provision of this information by courts and law enforcement agencies to school principals is authorized under existing law.
Current law establishes a procedure for the transfer of student records, including student disciplinary records, of a public school student who transfers to another school district. This bill establishes a similar procedure for the transfer of student disciplinary records when a nonpublic school student transfers to a public school.