Bill Text: NJ A1011 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs Commissioner of Education to establish pilot program to improve social and emotional learning.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A1011 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A1011-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman JOANN DOWNEY
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Directs Commissioner of Education to establish pilot program to improve social and emotional learning.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing a social and emotional learning pilot program in the Department of Education.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Education shall establish a three-year social and emotional learning pilot program. The purpose of the program shall be to improve the social and emotional learning of public school students. The board of education of each school district shall select one school from the district to participate in the pilot program.
b. The program shall be administered through a contract with outside entities that have been identified by the commissioner as a community-based organization that:
(1) utilizes a social and emotional curriculum that:
(a) has been successfully tested in schools within the State;
(b) includes a volunteerism component;
(c) is listed in the United States Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse;
(d) is rated highly by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, and the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices; and
(e) has specific plans targeting prekindergarten through grade 12 that can be incorporated into established subject lesson plans or be its own lesson plan;
(2) utilizes social influence and social cognitive approaches in developing social-emotional competencies, citizenship skills, positive character, skills and attitudes consistent with a drug-free lifestyle, and service to others with a caring and consistent environment;
(3) utilizes a model which employs inquiry, presentation, discussion, group work, guided practice, service-learning, and reflection;
(4) has prior experience in the State in the professional development of teachers and other school staff; and
(5) is supported by community-based and volunteer service organizations.
c. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, and pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature. The report shall include, but not be limited to: the number of students who participated in the pilot program; the grade-levels of the students; the impact of the pilot program on improving the social and emotional learning of the students including, but not limited to, the impact of the program on lessening the frequency of violence, vandalism, harassment, intimidation, bullying, and alcohol and substance abuse; an evaluation of the organizations that administered the program; and the commissioner's recommendation concerning the continuation or expansion of the program.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a three-year social and emotional learning pilot program. The purpose of the program is to improve the social and emotional learning of public school students. The board of education of each school district will select one school from the district to participate in the pilot program.
Under the bill, program will be administered through a contract with outside entities that have been identified by the commissioner as a community-based organization that:
· utilizes a social and emotional curriculum that is listed in the United States Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse and is rated highly by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, and the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices;
· utilizes social influence and social cognitive approaches in developing social-emotional competencies, citizenship skills, positive character, skills and attitudes consistent with a drug-free lifestyle, and service to others with a caring and consistent environment; and
· is supported by community-based and volunteer service organizations.
The commissioner will submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature at the conclusion of the pilot program. The report will include: the number of students who participated in the pilot program; the grade-levels of the students; the impact of the pilot program on improving the social and emotional learning of the students including, but not limited to, the impact of the program on lessening the frequency of violence, vandalism, harassment, intimidation, bullying, and alcohol and substance abuse; an evaluation of the organizations that administered the program; and the commissioner's recommendation concerning the continuation or expansion of the program.
