Bill Text: NJ A4335 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Sets criteria for online learning provided to public school students.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-23 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A4335 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A4335-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RAJ MUKHERJI
District 33 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Sets criteria for online learning provided to public school students.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning online learning 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. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "New Jersey Online Education Student Safety and Success Act."
2. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. As computer-based learning becomes increasingly available in New Jersey, a lack of statutory guidance for online education is a growing problem demanding immediate attention;
b. Legislative hearings on this topic have revealed numerous disturbing examples from other states with inadequate safeguards governing online education, including: exorbitant profits by for-profit providers; substandard academic results; the inability of state education departments and other agencies to monitor and assess online programs thoroughly and consistently; and the failure of online programs to comport with even minimal student safety standards, such as background checks for online providers;
c. Another troubling trend seen in other states is that online learning is being provided by noncertified teachers, whereas in New Jersey an appropriately certified teacher is viewed as a key component in ensuring a student's educational success; and
d. New Jersey's public education system ranks among the best in the country. To continue the State's high academic standards, appropriate parameters are urgently needed to ensure quality online learning in the State that is accountable to students, parents, and taxpayers.
3. As used in this act:
"Credit recovery" means a course: aligned to the core curriculum content standards or the common core state standards, as appropriate; and equivalent to a course failed by a student in grades six through 12, which is required to be passed by the student during the summer for promotion to the next grade level by the start of the following school year, or which is required to be passed by the student in order to graduate from high school by the start of the next school year. "Credit recovery" shall include a course given to any student exiting grade 12 without a diploma who continues high school enrollment pursuant to N.J.S.18A:38-1 or N.J.S.18A:38-4, except that the course shall be one required in order to receive a State-endorsed diploma from the school district or charter school.
"Online learning" means the remote, live provision of teaching and educational services to students enrolled in a public school via the Internet or any other relevant secure communications protocol. The online learning may be delivered to students at home or at another appropriate facility pursuant to a policy adopted by a board of education of a school district or a board of trustees of a charter school.
"Remediation" means a course: aligned to the core curriculum content standards or the common core state standards, as appropriate; equivalent to a course minimally passed by the student; and recommended by the student's teacher or principal to be retaken during the summer to ensure that the student is prepared to continue study of the subject during the following school year.
4. Online learning shall meet the following criteria:
a. Online learning shall be provided by a teacher who is appropriately certified and who meets all other requirements applicable to public school teachers, including submitting to a criminal background check;
b. Online learning shall be permitted only for the purpose of credit recovery or remediation;
c. Online learning shall allow for live interaction, as appropriate, between teacher and students. Pre-recorded lessons or other non-interactive instruction shall not be permitted;
d. Online learning shall be under the direct supervision of the school district or charter school at which the student receiving the online learning is enrolled, and that school district or charter school shall provide all technology necessary for the online learning; and
e. A for-profit entity may not administer, manage, or otherwise operate as a provider of online learning.
5. a. Prior to participating in, contracting for, or otherwise providing online learning to its students, a school district or charter school shall adopt a policy on online learning which is consistent with the provisions of this act.
b. A school district or charter school shall ensure that any online learning provided to its students meets all the requirements set forth in this act.
6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be first applicable to the 2015-2016 school year.
STATEMENT
This bill is entitled the "New Jersey Online Education Student Safety and Success Act." The bill establishes parameters for the provision of online learning for public school students. "Online learning" is defined as the remote live provision of teaching and educational services to public school students via the Internet or any other relevant secure communications protocol.
Under the provisions of the bill, online learning is only permitted for the purposes of credit recovery or remediation. "Credit recovery" is defined as a course which is equivalent to a course failed by a student in grades six through 12, and which is either required to be passed by the student during the summer for promotion to the next grade level by the start of the next school year, or is required to be passed by the student in order to graduate from high school by the start of the next school year. "Credit recovery" would also cover courses given to students exiting grade 12 who continue to be enrolled in high school as permitted by law or district policy, except that the courses must be necessary for receipt of a State-endorsed diploma from the school district or charter school. "Remediation" is defined as a course equivalent to a course minimally passed by the student, and recommended by the student's teacher or principal to be retaken during the summer to assure that the student is prepared to continue study of the subject during the following school year.
Online learning must, in addition, meet the following criteria:
· Teachers who are appropriately certified and who meet all other requirements applicable to public school teachers must provide the online learning;
· The opportunity for live interaction between teachers and students must be available with online learning. No pre-recorded lessons or other non-interactive instruction will be permitted as part of online learning;
· Online learning must be under the direct supervision of the school district or charter school where the student receiving the online learning is enrolled and all the technology necessary for the online learning must be provided by the district or charter school; and
· A for-profit entity may not administer, manage, or otherwise operate as a provider of online learning.
The bill requires that prior to a school district or a charter school providing any online learning to its students, the district or charter school must adopt a policy on online learning that is consistent with the provisions of this bill. In addition, a school district or charter school must ensure that any online learning provided to its students meets all the requirements set forth in the bill.
