SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2058

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 19, 2014

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 2058.

      This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Education to create a pilot recovery high school for the purpose of demonstrating the effectiveness of the recovery high school model in New Jersey.  A recovery high school is defined as a public school that serves students diagnosed with substance use disorder or dependency as defined by the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and that provides both a comprehensive four-year high school education and a structured plan of recovery. 

      Under the bill’s provisions, the commissioner will issue a request for proposals to operate the pilot recovery high school.  The approval of the State Board of Education will be required in order for the recovery high school to begin operation.  Any school district in the State that has a student who is currently enrolled or resides in the municipality in which the district is located and who the district considers to be both clinically and academically appropriate for referral to the recovery high school may be referred for voluntary enrollment in the school.  If the student is admitted to the recovery high school, the sending district provides a per pupil payment to the school that includes both State aid and local tax levy.  Any federal funds directly attributable to the student will also be forwarded to the recovery high school.  These payments will be made for a student who: 1) is currently enrolled in the district or resides in the municipality in which the district is located; 2) is considered by a certified alcohol and drug counselor  to be clinically appropriate; and 3) meets all matriculation criteria as outlined by the sending district and the Department of Education.  The sending district will ensure that upon completion of all graduation requirements a student admitted to the recovery high school will receive a State-endorsed high school diploma.

      After two years of operation, the pilot recovery high school is to submit to the commissioner an analysis of the recovery high school’s educational outcomes including, but not limited to, student graduation rates, retention rates, course performance, and performance on the State assessments.