Bill Text: NJ S464 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Revises conditions for use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-03-07 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [S464 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-S464-Amended.html
[Second Reprint]
SENATE, No. 464
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2022 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS J. SACCO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Senator JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Thompson and Greenstein
SYNOPSIS
Revises conditions for use of virtual or remote instruction to meet minimum 180-day school year requirement.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As amended by the Senate on March 3, 2022.
An Act concerning flexible instruction days for public schools and approved private schools for students with disabilities, and amending P.L.1996, c.138 and P.L.2020, c.27.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 9 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-9) is amended to read as follows:
9. a. In order to receive any State aid pursuant to P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.), a school district, charter-
school, renaissance school project, county vocational school district, or county special services school district shall comply with the rules and standards for the equalization of opportunity which have been or may hereafter be prescribed by law or formulated by the commissioner pursuant to law, including those implementing P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-1 et al.) and P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.) or related to the core curriculum content standards required by P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.), and shall further comply with any directive issued by the commissioner pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-6). The commissioner is hereby authorized to withhold all or part of a district's State aid for failure to comply with any rule, standard or directive. No State aid shall be paid to any district which has not provided public school facilities for at least 180 days during the preceding school year, but the commissioner, for good cause shown, may remit the penalty.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section to the contrary, in the event that a school district is required to close the schools of the district for one or more [than three consecutive] school days due to inclement weather or hazardous transportation conditions, a declared state of emergency, a declared public health emergency, 1[or]1 a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public health-related closure, 1or any other circumstance that requires the closure of the schools of the district,1 the commissioner shall allow the district to apply to the 180-day requirement established pursuant to subsection a. of this section, one or more days of virtual or remote instruction provided to students on the day or days the schools of the district were closed if the program of virtual or remote instruction meets such criteria as may be established by the commissioner. A district that wants to use a program of virtual or remote instruction to meet the 180-day requirement in accordance with this subsection shall, with board of education approval, submit its proposed program of virtual or remote instruction to the commissioner within 30 days of the effective date of P.L.2020, c.27 and annually thereafter, provided however that if the school district is unable to complete and submit its proposed program within the 30-day period and the district is required to close its schools for inclement weather or hazardous transportation conditions, a declared state of emergency, a declared public health emergency, 1[or]1 a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public health-related closure, 1or any other circumstance that requires the closure of the schools of the district,1 the commissioner may retroactively approve the program. 2As part of its proposed program of virtual or remote instruction, a school district shall designate not less than three school make up days, in addition to the minimum 180 days needed to meet the 180-day requirement established pursuant to subsection a. of this section, which make up days shall be used to provide in person instruction in the event the school district is required to close its schools. A school district shall use at least three designated school make up days to provide in person instruction that shall be applied to the 180-day requirement established pursuant to subsection a. of this section prior to providing any day of virtual or remote instruction under a program approved by the commissioner.2
A day of virtual or remote instruction, if instituted under a program approved by the commissioner, shall be considered the equivalent of a full day of school attendance for the purposes of meeting State and local graduation requirements, the awarding of course credit, and such other matters as determined by the commissioner.
1A school district shall provide written notification to the board of education and the executive county superintendent stating that the school district is providing its program of virtual or remote instruction, as approved by the commissioner pursuant to this subsection, and specifying the day or days, if consecutive, that the school district is providing its program of virtual or remote instruction. The written notification shall attest that all students in the district have access to a computer or to sufficient broadband, or to any other technology required for the virtual or remote instruction on the day or days specified in the written notification. If the written notification does not include the attestation, the executive county superintendent shall notify the commissioner. 2The executive county superintendent shall notify the commissioner of any irregularities with respect to the school district's use of its program of virtual or remote instruction, which irregularities may include, but are not limited to, the use of virtual or remote instruction during a school closure, for which the circumstances used to determine the school closure are not appropriate circumstances upon which to base a school closure.2 The commissioner shall not allow the school district to apply to the 180-day requirement established pursuant to subsection a. of this section any day of virtual or remote instruction provided to students when the school district is closed if the commissioner determines that the school district did not ensure that all students have access to a computer or to sufficient broadband, or to any other technology required for the virtual or remote instruction on the day or days specified in the written notification 2, or, based upon notification from an executive county superintendent of irregularities, if the commissioner determines that the school district failed to provide its program of virtual or remote instruction in a manner consistent with the provisions of this subsection2 .1
2If a school district should reasonably expect to implement its program of virtual or remote instruction for five or more consecutive school days, or if a school district provides written notification to the board of education and the executive county superintendent that it will provide its program of virtual or remote instruction for five or more consecutive school days, the school district shall obtain prior written approval of the commissioner to implement its program of virtual or remote instruction pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.2
If a program of virtual or remote instruction is implemented for the general education students the same educational opportunities shall be provided to students with disabilities. Special education and related services, including speech language services, counseling services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral services, may be delivered to students with disabilities through the use of electronic communication or a virtual or online platform and as required by the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), to the greatest extent practicable.
c. In the event that the State or local health department determines that it is advisable to close or mandates closure of the schools of a school district due to a declared state of emergency, declared public health emergency, or a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public health-related closure, or in the event that there is inclement weather or hazardous transportation conditions 1or any other circumstance1 that requires the closure of the schools of a school district for one or more school days, the superintendent of schools shall have the authority to implement the school district's program of virtual or remote instruction. The superintendent shall consult with the board of education prior to such decision if practicable. The superintendent shall ensure that students, parents, staff, and the board of education or boards of education are informed promptly of the superintendent's decision.
d. The commissioner shall define virtual and remote instruction and establish guidance for its use. The guidance shall provide school districts with information on:
(1) providing instruction to students who may not have access to a computer or to sufficient broadband, or to any technology required for virtual or remote instruction;
(2) the required length of a virtual or remote instruction day;
(3) the impact of virtual or remote instruction on the school lunch and school breakfast programs;
(4) the impact of virtual or remote instruction on the schedule for administering State assessments; and
(5) such other topics as the commissioner deems necessary.
e. (1) Nothing in subsection b., c., or d. of this section shall be construed to limit, supersede or preempt the rights, privileges, compensation, remedies, and procedures afforded to public school employees or a collective bargaining unit under federal or State law or any provision of a collective bargaining agreement entered into by the school district. In the event of the closure of the schools of a school district due to a declared state of emergency, declared public health emergency, or a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public health-related closure for a period longer than three consecutive school days, public school employees covered by a collective negotiations agreement shall be entitled to compensation, benefits, and emoluments as provided in the collective negotiations agreement as if the school facilities remained open for any purpose and for any time lost as a result of school closures or use of virtual or remote instruction, except that additional compensation, benefits, and emoluments may be negotiated for additional work performed.
(2) In the event of the closure of the schools of a school district due to a declared state of emergency, declared public health emergency, or a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public health-related closure for a period longer than three consecutive school days, public school employees who are not covered by a collective negotiations agreement shall be entitled to any benefits, compensation, and emoluments to which they otherwise would be entitled as if they had performed the work for such benefits, compensation, and emoluments as if the school facilities remained open for any purpose and for any time lost as a result of school closures or use of virtual or remote instruction.
(3) If the schools of a school district are subject to a health-related closure for a period longer than three consecutive school days, which is the result of a declared state of emergency, declared public health emergency, or a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer, then the school district shall continue to make payments of benefits, compensation, and emoluments pursuant to the terms of a contract with a contracted service provider in effect on the date of the closure as if the services for such benefits, compensation, and emoluments had been provided, and as if the school facilities had remained open. Payments received by a contracted service provider pursuant to this paragraph shall be used to meet the payroll and fixed costs obligations of the contracted service provider, and employees of the contracted service provider shall be paid as if the school facilities had remained open and in full operation. A school district shall make all reasonable efforts to renegotiate a contract in good faith subject to this paragraph and may direct contracted service providers, who are a party to a contract and receive payments from the school district under this paragraph, to provide services on behalf of the school district which may reasonably be provided and are within the general expertise or service provision of the original contract. Negotiations shall not include indirect costs such as fuel or tolls. As a condition of negotiations, a contracted service provider shall reveal to the school district whether the entity has insurance coverage for business interruption covering work stoppages. A school district shall not be liable for the payment of benefits, compensation, and emoluments pursuant to the terms of a contract with a contracted service provider under this paragraph for services which otherwise would not have been provided had the school facilities remained open. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require a school district to make payments to a party in material breach of a contract with a contracted service provider if the breach was not due to a closure resulting from a declared state of emergency, declared public health emergency, or a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer.
(4) If the schools of a school district are subject to a health-related closure for a period longer than three consecutive school days, which is the result of a declared state of emergency, declared public health emergency, or a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer, the school district shall be obligated to make payments for benefits, compensation, and emoluments and all payments required pursuant to P.L.1968, c.243 (C.18A:6-51 et seq.), to an educational services commission, county special services school district, and a jointure commission, and under any shared services agreement and cooperative contract entered into with any other public entity. An educational services commission, county special services school district, and jointure commission shall continue to make payments of benefits, compensation, and emoluments pursuant to the terms of a contract with a contracted service provider or a shared services agreement in effect on the date of the closure as if the services for such benefits, compensation, and emoluments had been provided, and as if the school facilities had remained open. Payments received by a contracted service provider or public entity pursuant to this paragraph shall be used to meet the payroll and fixed costs obligations of the contracted service provider or public entity, and employees of the contracted service provider or public entity shall be paid as if the school facilities had remained open and in full operation. Upon request of the school district, the educational services commission, county special services school district, and a jointure commission shall certify, and provide any supporting documentation to a school district as may be necessary to verify, that payments received have been used solely to meet the payroll and fixed costs of the contracted service provider or public entity. Any portion of those payments not used to meet the payroll and fixed costs shall be returned to the school district. An educational services commission, county special services school district, jointure commission or any lead school district under a shared services agreement or cooperative contract, shall make all reasonable efforts to renegotiate a contract in good faith subject to this paragraph and may direct contracted service providers or public entities, who are a party to a contract and receive payments under this paragraph, to provide services which may reasonably be provided and are within the general expertise or service provision of the original contract. Negotiations shall not include indirect costs such as fuel or tolls. As a condition of negotiations, a contracted service provider or public entity shall reveal whether the entity has insurance coverage for business interruption covering work stoppages.
(5) The provisions of paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection e. shall not apply to any employee whose weekly hours of work are reduced, and to whom unemployment benefits are provided, pursuant to a shared work program approved pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2011, c.154 (C.43:21-20.3 et seq.). A contracted service provider, educational services commission, county special services school district, or jointure commission shall notify any school district with which it has entered into a contract to provide services of its intent to reduce the hours of work of its employees pursuant to a shared work program approved pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2011, c.154 (C.43:21-20.3 et seq.). Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (3) of this subsection e., if a contracted service provider reduces the amount that it pays to its employees providing services to a school district, and that reduction is the result of a reduction of workhours of those employees made pursuant to a shared work program approved pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2011, c.154 (C.43:21-20.3 et seq.), then the amount paid by the public school district to the contracted service provider shall be reduced by the same amount. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (4) of this subsection e., if an educational services commission, county special services school district, or jointure commission reduces the amount that it pays to its employees providing services to a school district, and that reduction is the result of a reduction of workhours of the those employees made pursuant to a shared work program approved pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2011, c.154 (C.43:21-20.3 et seq.), then the amount paid by the public school district to the educational services commission, county special services school district, or jointure commission shall be reduced by the same amount.
f. For purposes of subsections b., c., d., and e. of this section, "school district" shall include a charter school and a renaissance school project.
(cf: P.L.2020, c.57, s.3)
2. Section 2 of P.L.2020, c.27 (C.18A:46-21.1) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. In the event that an approved private school for students with disabilities is required to close the school for one or more [than three consecutive] school days due to inclement weather or hazardous transportation conditions, a declared state of emergency, a declared public health emergency, 1[or]1 a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public health-related closure, 1or any other circumstance that requires the closure of the school,1 the commissioner shall allow the school to apply one or more days of virtual or remote instruction provided to students on the day or days the school was closed to qualify as a day of instruction for the purposes of calculating tuition if the program of virtual or remote instruction meets such criteria as may be established by the commissioner. An approved private school for students with disabilities that wants to use a program of virtual or remote instruction to qualify as a day of instruction for the purposes of calculating tuition shall submit its proposed program of virtual or remote instruction to the commissioner within 30 days of the effective date of P.L.2020, c.27 and annually thereafter, provided however that if the school is unable to complete its proposed program within the 30-day period and the school is required to close for inclement weather or hazardous transportation conditions, a declared state of emergency, a declared public health emergency, 1[or]1 a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public health-related closure, 1or any other circumstance that requires the closure of the school,1 the commissioner may retroactively approve the program. 2As part of its proposed program of virtual or remote instruction, an approved private school for students with disabilities shall designate not less than three school make up days that qualify as days of instruction for the purposes of calculating tuition, in addition to its anticipated number of enrolled days in the school year, which make up days shall be used to provide in person instruction in the event the school is required to close. An approved private school for students with disabilities shall use at least three designated school make up days to provide in person instruction that qualify as days of instruction for the purposes of calculating tuition prior to providing any day of virtual or remote instruction under a program approved by the commissioner.2
A day of virtual or remote instruction, if instituted under a program approved by the commissioner, shall be considered the equivalent of a full day of school attendance for the purposes of meeting State and local graduation requirements, the awarding of course credit, and such other matters as determined by the commissioner.
1An approved private school for students with disabilities shall provide written notification to its governing body and to the executive county superintendent of the county in which the school is located stating that the school is providing its program of virtual or remote instruction, as approved by the commissioner pursuant to this subsection, and specifying the day or days, if consecutive, that the school is providing its program of virtual or remote instruction. The written notification shall attest that all students of the school have access to a computer or to sufficient broadband, or to any other technology required for the virtual or remote instruction on the day or days specified in the written notification. If the written notification does not include the attestation, the executive county superintendent shall notify the commissioner. 2The executive county superintendent shall notify the commissioner of any irregularities with respect to the school's use of its program of virtual or remote instruction, which irregularities may include, but are not limited to, the use of virtual or remote instruction during a school closure, for which the circumstances used to determine the school closure are not appropriate circumstances upon which to base a school closure.2 The commissioner shall not allow the school to apply any day of virtual or remote instruction provided to students when the school is closed to qualify as a day of instruction for the purposes of calculating tuition if the commissioner determines that the school did not ensure that all students have access to a computer or to sufficient broadband, or to any other technology required for the virtual or remote instruction on the day or days specified in the written notification 2, or, based upon notification from an executive county superintendent of irregularities, if the commissioner determines that the school failed to provide its program of virtual or remote instruction in a manner consistent with the provisions of this subsection2 .1
2If an approved private school for students with disabilities should reasonably expect to implement its program of virtual or remote instruction for five or more consecutive school days that qualify as days of instruction for the purposes of calculating tuition, or if an approved private school for students with disabilities provides written notification to its governing body and the executive county superintendent that it will provide its program of virtual or remote instruction for five or more consecutive school days, the school shall obtain prior written approval of the commissioner to implement its program of virtual or remote instruction pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.2
Special education and related services, including speech language services, counseling services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral services, may be delivered to students with disabilities through the use of electronic communication or a virtual or online platform and as required by the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), to the greatest extent practicable.
b. In the event that the State or local health department determines that it is advisable to close or mandates closure of an approved private school for students with disabilities due to a declared state of emergency, declared public health emergency, or a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public health-related closure, or in the event that there is inclement weather or hazardous transportation conditions 1or any other circumstance1 that requires the closure of an approved private school for students with disabilities for one or more school days, the principal of the school shall have the authority to implement the school's program of virtual or remote instruction.
c. The commissioner shall define virtual and remote instruction and establish guidance for its use. The guidance shall provide schools with information on:
(1) providing instruction to students who may not have access to a computer or to sufficient broadband, or to any technology required for virtual or remote instruction;
(2) the required length of a virtual or remote instruction day;
(3) the impact of virtual or remote instruction on the schedule for administering State assessments; and
(4) such other topics as the commissioner deems necessary.
(cf: P.L.2020, c.27, s.2)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
