SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 129

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 18, 2015

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Resolution No. 129.

      This resolution urges the Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines that identify a range of appropriate policies  that may be adopted by a school district when considering how students not participating in the Statewide assessment will be supervised and what, if any, alternate arrangements will be provided to them during the test administration.  The guidelines should prohibit a school district from taking punitive action against a student including, but not limited to, the adoption of a sit and stare policy in response to the student’s refusal to participate in the Statewide assessment.  The guidelines should also address how and when the district’s policy will be communicated to parents, students, and school district staff.