Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ROSAURA "ROSY" BAGOLIE
District 27 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Permits boards of education to provide chess instruction to students in grades two through eight in certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning chess instruction and amending P.L.1992, c.201.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1992 (C.18A:35-4.15) is amended to read as follows:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. chess increases strategic thinking skills, stimulates intellectual creativity, and improves problem-solving ability while raising self esteem;
b. when youngsters play chess they must call upon higher-order thinking skills, analyze actions and consequences, and visualize future possibilities;
c. in countries where chess is offered widely in schools, students exhibit excellence in the ability to recognize complex patterns and consequently excel in math and science; and
d. instruction in chess [during the second grade] in grades two through eight will enable pupils to learn skills which will serve them throughout their lives.
(cf. P.L.1992, c.201, s.1)
2. Section 2 of P.L.1992 (C.18A:35-4.16) is amended to read as follows:
2. Each board of education may offer instruction in chess [during the second grade] in grades two through eight for pupils in gifted and talented and special education programs. The Department of Education may establish guidelines to be used by boards of education which offer chess instruction in those programs.
(cf: P.L.1992, c.201, s.2)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill permits a board of education to offer instruction in chess in grades two through eight for students in gifted and talented and special education programs. Current law provides that the Department of Education may establish guidelines to be used by boards of education which offer chess instruction in those programs.