Bill Text: NJ S2226 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Allows school districts and requires public colleges to enter into dual enrollment agreements to provide college-level instruction to high school students through courses offered on college or high school campuses.*
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-10-14 - Substituted by A3338 (2R) [S2226 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S2226-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Turner, Allen and Doherty
SYNOPSIS
Allows school districts and requires public colleges to enter into dual enrollment agreements to provide college-level instruction to high school students through courses offered on college or high school campuses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Education Committee on September 18, 2014, with amendments.
An Act concerning dual enrollment programs, supplementing chapter 61C of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and repealing P.L.1986, c.193 and P.L.1986, c.194.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. 1[Within one year of the effective date of this act, a] A1 school district with a high school 1[shall] may1 enter into a dual enrollment agreement with one or more public institutions of higher education.
b. 1[Within one year of the effective date of this act, a] A1 public institution of higher education 1, other than a State college which generally limits enrollment in its undergraduate programs to persons who are at least 21 years of age,1 shall enter into a dual enrollment agreement with one or more school districts with a high school.
c. A dual enrollment agreement between a public institution of higher education and a school district shall delineate the dual enrollment program pursuant to which instruction is provided to high school students through courses offered by the institution of higher education on its campus or on the campus of the public high school for college credit or credit toward a career certificate.
d. The dual enrollment agreement shall include:
(1) a description of the courses available to students eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program;
(2) a description of the student eligibility requirements for initial and continuing participation in the dual enrollment program, which shall include a provision that ensures that an eligible student is not excluded from participation because of an inability to pay;
(3) a description of the process by which a student and his parent or guardian exercise the option to participate in the dual enrollment program;
(4) a provision ensuring that any dual enrollment course taught on the high school campus is equivalent in rigor to courses taught on the campus of the institution of higher education;
(5) a description of the process by which a student and his parent or guardian are informed about opportunities for student participation in the dual enrollment program; and
(6) such other items as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of Higher Education.
2. A public institution of higher education shall accept the course credit of a student who successfully completes a course under the dual enrollment program.
3. The Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of Higher Education shall submit annually a joint report to the Governor and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on dual enrollment programs in the State. The report shall include, but need not be limited to: information related to the utilization of dual enrollment programs throughout the State, including information specific to the income-level and location within the State of participating students; the effect dual enrollment programs have on reducing the average time-to-degree completion and increasing the likelihood of college graduation for participating students; an analysis of the rigor of the courses taken pursuant to the dual enrollment program; and recommendations for any suggested changes to the dual enrollment program.
4. The State Board of Education and the Secretary of Higher Education each shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
5. The following sections are repealed:
Sections 1 and 3 of P.L.1986, c.194 (C.18A:61C-1 and C.18A:61C-3); and
Sections 1 through 7 of P.L.1986, c.193 (C.18A:61C-4 through C.18A:61C-9).
6. This act shall take effect 1[immediately] in the 2015-2016 school year1.
