ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4021

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 9, 2021

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 4021 with committee amendments.

     As amended, this bill requires a board of education to include instruction on the history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies.  The bill would also require a board of education to have policies and procedures in place pertaining to the selection of instructional materials that comply with the provisions of this bill.  In adopting materials for use in the school district, a board of education would be required to adopt inclusive instructional materials that portray the cultural and economic diversity of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.  The bill would further require a board of education to seek the assistance and advice of the Commission on Asian Heritage in fulfilling the requirements of the bill.

     As amended and reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 6100, which was also amended and reported by the committee on this same date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

     The committee amended the bill to require a board of education to seek the assistance and advice of the Commission on Asian Heritage in fulfilling the requirements of the bill.  The committee also amended the effective date of the bill to have the bill first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.