Bill Text: NJ S1617 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes project-based learning pilot program in DOE.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S1617 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S1617-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes project-based learning pilot program in DOE.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing a project-based 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. As used in this section, "project-based learning" means a teaching method that offers students the opportunity for active engagement through the design, development, and implementation of real-world projects.
b. The Commissioner of Education shall establish a three-year project-based learning pilot program. The purpose of the program shall be to introduce students in grades nine through 12 to project-based learning by means of offering project-based courses in participating school districts.
c. A school district with students in grades nine through 12, or any combination thereof, that wants to participate in the pilot program shall submit an application to the commissioner. The application shall include:
(1) a description of the school district's proposal for creating and implementing a project-based learning course;
(2) the estimated number of students who will be eligible to participate in the course; and
(3) any other information as prescribed by the commissioner.
d. The commissioner shall select up to six school districts for participation in the pilot program. The commissioner shall select two districts in each of the southern, central, and northern regions of the State, and shall seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State.
e. At the conclusion of the pilot program, 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). The report shall contain information on the implementation of the pilot program and shall include the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of continuing or expanding the program.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a three-year project-based learning pilot program. The purpose of the program will be to introduce students in grades nine through 12 to project-based learning through project-based course offerings. As defined in the bill, project-based learning means a teaching method that offers students the opportunity for active engagement through the design, development, and implementation of real-world projects.
Under the bill, a school district with students in grades nine through 12 that wants to participate in the pilot program will submit an application to the commissioner. The application will include: a description of the school district's proposal for creating and implementing a project-based learning course; the estimated number of students who will be eligible to participate in the course; and any other information as prescribed by the commissioner.
Also under the bill, the commissioner will select up to six school districts for participation in the pilot program. The commissioner will select two districts in each of the southern, central, and northern regions of the State, and will seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner will submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature. The report will contain information on the implementation of the pilot program, as well as the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of continuing or expanding the program.
