STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GILBERT "WHIP" L. WILSON
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Requires each charter school to annually employ teachers who hold special education endorsements.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning the provision of special education services in charter schools and amending P.L.1995, c.426.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 11 of P.L.1995, c.426 (C.18A:36A-11) is amended to read as follows:
11. a. A charter school shall operate in accordance with its charter and the provisions of law and regulation which govern other public schools; except that, upon the request of the board of trustees of a charter school, the commissioner may exempt the school from State regulations concerning public schools, except those pertaining to assessment, testing, civil rights and student health and safety, if the board of trustees satisfactorily demonstrates to the commissioner that the exemption will advance the educational goals and objectives of the school.
b. (1) A charter school shall comply with the provisions of chapter 46 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes concerning the provision of services to handicapped students; except that the fiscal responsibility for any student currently enrolled in or determined to require a private day or residential school shall remain with the district of residence.
Within 15 days of the signing of the individualized education plan, a charter school shall provide notice to the resident district of any individualized education plan which results in a private day or residential placement. The resident district may challenge the placement within 30 days in accordance with the procedures established by law.
(2) Each charter school shall annually employ teachers who hold special education endorsements. The number of special education teachers employed by a charter school shall be in accordance with guidelines established by the commissioner that reflect the number of students enrolled in a charter school.
c. A charter school shall comply with applicable State and federal anti-discrimination statutes.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.260, s.57)
2. This act shall take effect for the 2012-2013 school year.
STATEMENT
This bill requires each charter school to annually employ teachers who hold special education endorsements. The number of special education teachers employed by a charter school must be in accordance with guidelines established by the Commissioner of Education that reflect the number of students enrolled in a charter school. A requirement that each charter school have special education teachers on staff will serve to increase the enrollment of students with disabilities in charter schools.