SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2945

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 6, 2024

     The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 2945 with committee amendments.

     As amended, this bill establishes an 11-member task force to examine, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding discipline policies and practices in New Jersey public schools, including any racial disparities in the implementation of those policies and the effectiveness of the policies.

     The task force is to consist of 11 members as follows:

· the Commissioner of Education, or a designee;

· the Director of the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or a designee;

· seven members appointed by the Governor, who are to include: one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey School Boards Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Education Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; one member upon the recommendation of the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Charter Schools Association; and one member of the public who has specialized knowledge or expertise in issues related to school discipline practices. 

· one member of the public appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the President of the Senate, and one member of the public appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, both of whom are to have specialized knowledge or expertise in issues related to school discipline practices.

     Under the amended bill, the task force is charged with studying, evaluating, and making recommendations regarding school discipline policies and practices in New Jersey, which is to include, but not be limited to, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, expulsion, use of physical restraint, and use of seclusion techniques. The task force is to:

· examine discipline practices of school districts in the State and any racial disparities or disproportionate impacts associated with the discipline practices, including the impact of race on the suspension or expulsion of students enrolled in preschool programs;

· evaluate the effectiveness of school discipline practices in the State in reducing problem behaviors and protecting the safety and security of students and school staff;

· study federal guidance on school discipline issued by the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Justice, including the January 8, 2014 Dear Colleague Letter on the Nondiscriminatory Administration of School Discipline and the January 2014 document entitled “Guiding Principles: A Resource Guide for Improving School Climate and Discipline”;

· study other best practices or emerging research regarding improving school climate and creating positive and nondiscriminatory school discipline practices;

· provide recommendations to assist school districts in improving school discipline policies and practices, including ensuring that discipline practices are applied in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner; and

· provide recommendations for legislation concerning school discipline policies and practices.

     The task force is required to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within 12 months of its organization.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

     The committee amended the bill to:

· increase the membership of the task force to 11 members by adding the Director of the Division on Civil Rights in the Department of Law and Public Safety;

· require that one public member be appointed to the task force by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate and one public member be appointed to the task force by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly;

· provide that the task force is charged with studying and evaluating school discipline policies and practices in New Jersey, which are to include, but not be limited to, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, expulsion, use of physical restraint, and use of seclusion techniques; and

· make technical changes.