Bill Text: NJ A4843 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes matching grant program in DOE for school districts to implement high-impact tutoring programs addressing learning loss due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-11-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A4843 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A4843-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BRANDON E. UMBA
District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes matching grant program in DOE for school districts to implement high-impact tutoring programs addressing learning loss due to COVID-19 pandemic.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the High-Impact Tutoring Matching Grant Program in the Department of Education and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Department of Education the High-Impact Tutoring Matching Grant Program to provide matching grants to school districts to implement research-based, high-quality tutoring programs to address student learning loss or unfinished learning resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
b. To be eligible for consideration for a grant award, a school district shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Education, in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the commissioner.
c. A grant application submitted by a school district shall include
a plan incorporating the following elements of a high-impact tutoring program:
(1) the tutoring is provided in groups of four or fewer students;
(2) the tutoring is provided by the same person to the group of students throughout the school year;
(3) the tutoring is provided a minimum of three times per week;
(4) the tutoring is provided during the school day, not as a before school or afterschool program, and is supplemental to core academic instruction and not a replacement for that instruction;
(5) the tutoring is provided by high-quality, trained tutors;
(6) the tutors use a high-quality curriculum that is aligned with academic standards; and
(7) the tutoring is data-driven, with interim assessments to monitor student progress.
If a plan submitted by a school district as part of its grant application is not consistent with all of the elements set forth in this subsection, the school district shall include in its application the reason for the modification or omission of program elements and how the school district intends to achieve the desired student outcomes through its high-impact tutoring program.
d. In addition to the plan required to be included in the grant application pursuant to subsection c. of this section, the grant application shall also include information on the following:
(1) the projected cost of implementing the program and the amount of grant funding being sought by the school district;
(2) the method for identifying students for participation in the program;
(3) the number of students expected to be served under the program;
(4) the method for measuring student academic progress and other program outcomes;
(5) whether the school district intends to create its own program or partner with existing tutoring providers for implementation or tutor capacity and training;
(6) which academic subjects will be the focus of the program; and
(7) the method for recruiting and providing support for tutors.
e. Grants under the program shall be awarded on a competitive basis based on selection criteria established by the commissioner. The commissioner shall establish the amount for each grant that is approved.
f. A school district that receives a grant under the program shall provide district matching funds in an amount equal to 25 percent of the grant amount.
g. To the extent permitted under federal law, the Department of Education shall use federal funds available under the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021," Pub.L.117-2, or other available federal assistance to fund the grant program.
h. The commissioner shall submit a 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 three years after the establishment of the grant program. The report shall include, but need not be limited to, information on the number of grant applicants, the number and amounts of grant awards, an assessment of the effectiveness of the grant program in addressing learning loss and unfinished learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and any recommendations concerning continuing or expanding the grant program.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the High-Impact Tutoring Matching Grant Program in the Department of Education. Under the program, school districts will receive grants for the implementation of high-impact tutoring programs to address student learning loss or unfinished learning resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
To be eligible for consideration for a grant, a school district is required to submit a plan to the Commissioner of Education incorporating the following elements of a high-impact tutoring program:
· The tutoring is provided in groups of four or fewer students;
· The tutoring is provided by the same person to the group of students throughout the school year;
· The tutoring is provided a minimum of three times per week;
· The tutoring is provided during the school day, not as a before school or afterschool program, and is supplemental to core academic instruction and not a replacement for that instruction;
· The tutoring is provided by high-quality, trained tutors;
· The tutors use a high-quality curriculum that is aligned with academic standards; and
· The tutoring is data-driven, with interim assessments to monitor student progress.
In its application, the school district is also required to include: the projected cost of implementing the program and the amount of grant funding being sought; its method for identifying students for participation in the program and the number of students expected to be served; the method for measuring student academic progress and other program outcomes; whether the school district intends to create its own program or partner with existing tutoring providers for implementation or tutor capacity and training; which academic subjects will be the focus of the program; and the method for recruiting and providing support for tutors.
The commissioner will establish selection criteria for the awarding of the grants. A school district receiving a grand under the program will be required to provide district matching funds in an amount equal to 25 percent of the grant amount. To the extent permitted under federal law, the Department of Education will use federal funds available under the federal "American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021," Pub.L.117-2, or other available federal assistance to fund the grant program.
The commissioner is required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the effectiveness of the grant program in addressing learning loss and unfinished learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic and any recommendations concerning continuing or expanding the program.
