Bill Text: NJ A447 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes task force to study issues related to the establishment of full-day kindergarten.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 22-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-12-07 - Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [A447 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A447-Amended.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblywoman BETTYLOU DECROCE
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO
District 28 (Essex)
Assemblyman TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Eustace, Assemblywomen Jimenez, Vainieri Huttle, Assemblyman Diegnan, Assemblywomen Caride, Spencer, Watson Coleman, Assemblymen Conaway, Gusciora, Coughlin, McKeon, Garcia and Assemblywoman Riley
SYNOPSIS
Establishes task force to study issues related to the establishment of full-day kindergarten.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Education Committee with technical review.
An Act establishing a Task Force on Full-Day Kindergarten.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established a Task Force on Full-Day Kindergarten. The purpose of the task force is to study and evaluate issues associated with the establishment of full-day kindergarten.
b. The task force shall consist of the following 21 members:
(1) the Commissioner of Education, or his designee, who shall serve ex officio;
(2) one member appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, both of whom shall be members of the public with demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force;
(3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, both of whom shall be members of the public with demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force; and
(4) 16 members appointed by the Governor, who shall include: three superintendents of schools, one each from an urban, suburban, and rural school district; two elementary school principals, one of whom is employed in a school district that provides full-day kindergarten and one of whom is employed in a school district that provides half-day kindergarten; two kindergarten teachers, one of whom is employed in a school district that provides full-day kindergarten and one of whom is employed in a school district that provides half-day kindergarten; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Education Association; one member upon the recommendation of the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey School Boards Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; one member upon the recommendation of the Garden State Coalition of Schools; and three members of the public with demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the work of the task force, at least one of whom shall be a parent.
c. Appointments to the task force shall be made within 30 days after the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.
2. The task force shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members, but no later than 60 days after the effective date of this act. The task force shall choose a chairperson from among its members and shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force. The presence of 11 members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. The task force may conduct business without a quorum, but may only vote on recommendations when a quorum is present.
3. The Department of Education shall provide such stenographic, clerical, and other administrative assistants, and such professional staff as the task force requires to carry out its work. The task force also shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available for its purposes.
4. The task force shall study and evaluate issues associated with the establishment and implementation of full-day kindergarten throughout the State, and make recommendations regarding the establishment of full-day kindergarten. The task force shall study and consider issues including, but not limited to, the following:
a. review of existing research, studies, and data concerning full-day kindergarten, including studies that examine the long-term academic impact of full-day kindergarten, and studies that examine the social and emotional impact of full-day kindergarten;
b. implementation considerations associated with full-day kindergarten including, but not limited to, staffing needs, facility space, and class size;
c. funding necessary for the establishment of full-day kindergarten, including possible sources of funding;
d. curriculum comparisons between full-day kindergarten and half-day kindergarten;
e. opinions and recommendations of parents and elementary school teachers regarding full-day kindergarten, both in support of, and opposed to, full-day kindergarten; and
f. the feasibility of offering full-day kindergarten in school districts Statewide.
5. a. The task force shall issue a final report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than one year after the task force organizes. The report shall contain the task force's findings and recommendations regarding the establishment of full-day kindergarten.
b. The task force shall expire 30 days after the issuance of its final report.
6. This act shall take effect immediately.
