S4457 SCS

Sponsored by:

Senator TROY SINGLETON

District 7 (Burlington)

Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Diegnan and Corrado

SYNOPSIS

Requires State Board of Education to include bullying awareness and prevention in New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Substitute as adopted by the Senate Education Committee.

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. During the next scheduled update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards following the date of enactment of this act, as conducted pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-46), the State Board of Education shall review and update the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards to ensure the incorporation of age-appropriate instruction on bullying awareness and prevention in an appropriate place in the curriculum for students in grades preschool through 12.

b. The State board shall consider the addition of bullying awareness and prevention instruction in the standards that includes, but is not limited to, information on the:

(1) various types of bullying, including physical bullying, verbal bullying, social bullying, and cyberbullying;

(2) permanence of social media posts and the harm that may be caused through online harassment or bullying;

(3) ways to seek help for oneself or others who may be affected by bullying; and

(4) potential consequences of bullying on the perpetrator, including school disciplinary and criminal actions with long-term implications on the perpetrator’s future.

c. The State board shall adhere to the review and readoption process for the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and 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 and the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards required pursuant to this subsection.

d. The State board shall post on its Internet website a written summary that describes the updates to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards and details where the instruction on bullying awareness and prevention is located.

e. Following the update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the board shall consider revisions to the instruction on bullying awareness and prevention within 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.260 (C.18A:7F-46) and to each update to the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards.

2. a. In the first full school year following the date enactment of this act, the Commissioner of Education shall provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources regarding bullying awareness and prevention that may be incorporated into the district’s existing curriculum. The commissioner shall update the sample learning activities and resources following the update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards pursuant to subsection a. of section 1 of this act.

b. School districts may use the sample learning activities and resources provided by the commissioner pursuant to subsection a. of this section; however, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require school districts to use sample learning activities and resources before the update to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards pursuant to subsection a. of section 1 of this act.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.