Bill Text: NJ A578 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs Commissioner of Education to study curriculum requirements for geography education in high school.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A578 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A578-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PAUL D. MORIARTY
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Directs Commissioner of Education to study curriculum requirements for geography education in high school.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning geography education in public high schools 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. a. The Commissioner of Education shall study the need for, and the advisability of, increasing the curriculum requirements for the study of geography in high school. The study shall include an evaluation of the potential positive and negative consequences associated with enhancing the geography education requirements.
b. The commissioner shall report his findings and recommendations within 6 months of the effective date of this act to the State Board of Education, the Governor, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to study the need for, and the advisability of, increasing the curriculum requirements for the study of geography in high school. The study must include an evaluation of the potential positive and negative consequences associated with enhancing the geography education requirements. The commissioner will report his findings and recommendations within 6 months of the bill's effective date to the State Board of Education, the Governor, and the Legislature.
There is currently no requirement that a high school student complete a course dedicated solely to geography. Under current State Board of Education regulations (N.J.A.C.6A:8-5.1), a student must complete at least 15 credits in social studies in order to be eligible to receive a State-endorsed high school diploma. All social studies course offerings must integrate civics, economics, geography, and global content within the curriculum.
