New Jersey-2012-A1439-Introduced

An Act establishing a magnet school pilot program in the Department of Education and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The Legislature finds that numerous studies point to the benefits of magnet schools. Magnet schools have been found to increase student achievement, student motivation and satisfaction with school, teacher motivation and morale, and parental satisfaction with their child's educational experience. Many of the studies of magnet schools have demonstrated that the average test scores of students in magnet schools are higher than scores for those in non-magnet schools. Magnet schools have also demonstrated their ability to increase diversity within a public school system by offering innovative curricula and instructional approaches that attract students from outside an assigned neighborhood attendance zone. The Legislature further finds, therefore, that the establishment of a magnet school pilot program will provide the State with an opportunity to study and evaluate the ability of such schools to increase student diversity and enhance academic achievement, while providing students with another school choice opportunity.

2. a. The Commissioner of Education shall establish a five-year magnet school pilot program. Under the program three magnet schools shall be established in three school districts selected by the commissioner, one each in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State.

In selecting the pilot school districts the commissioner may consider factors such as a district's socioeconomic status as reflected by its district factor grouping, the failure rate of district students on the Statewide assessments, the percentage of district students who graduate high school through completion of the High School Proficiency Assessment and the Alternative High School Assessment, and the potential impact of a magnet school on student diversity and enhanced academic achievement in the pilot districts.

A school district which is interested in being selected as a pilot district shall submit an application to the commissioner which details how the establishment of a magnet school would enhance the educational programs and services offered by the district and serve to advance student diversity and academic achievement.

b. Under the pilot program, students who reside in a pilot district and students who reside outside of a pilot district shall be eligible for enrollment in the magnet school in accordance with standards and procedures established by the commissioner. The commissioner shall work collaboratively with the board of education of each pilot school district in the establishment of the magnet school in the district including on issues concerning, but not limited to:

(1) the selection of the site for the magnet school;

(2) the process for the enrollment of students in the school; and

(3) the nature of the curriculum of the magnet school which may focus on mathematics, science, or the performing art, or may offer a specialized instructional approach.

c. A magnet school may limit admission to areas of concentration of the school, such as mathematics, science, or the performing arts. The commissioner, in consultation with the school district, may establish reasonable criteria to evaluate prospective students for enrollment in the magnet school.

d. A pilot school district may not charge tuition to a student enrolled in the magnet school who resides in the district in which the magnet school is located. The school district may charge tuition to the district of residence of a student enrolled in the magnet school who does not reside in the district in which the magnet school is located in accordance with standards established by the commissioner.

e. A student who resides in the school district in which a magnet school is located shall be provided transportation to the magnet school on the same terms and conditions as transportation is provided to students attending the schools of the district. A non-resident student shall receive transportation services pursuant to regulations established by the State Board of Education.

f. On or before January 1 of the fifth school year of the pilot program, the commissioner shall submit to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a report on and an evaluation of the magnet school pilot program, which report shall include a recommendation on the advisability of the continuation, modification, or expansion of the program to other school districts in the State.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a five-year magnet school pilot program. Under the program three magnet schools will be established in three school districts selected by the commissioner, one each in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. The bill establishes a number of criteria that the commissioner may consider in selecting the pilot districts that are associated with the impact that the establishment of a magnet school may have on student diversity in the pilot districts and in enhancing the academic achievement of students within those districts. Under the program, both students who reside in a pilot district and those who reside outside of a pilot district will be eligible for enrollment in the magnet school.

The bill directs the commissioner to work collaboratively with the boards of education in each of the pilot districts in the establishment of the magnet school including on issues concerning, but not limited to:

(1) the selection of the site for the magnet school;

(2) the process for the enrollment of students in the school; and

(3) the nature of the curriculum of the magnet school which may focus on mathematics, science, or the performing arts, or may offer a specialized instructional approach.

A magnet school may limit admission to areas of concentration of the school and the commissioner, in consultation with the pilot district, may establish reasonable criteria to evaluate prospective students.

A pilot school district may not charge tuition to a student enrolled in the magnet school who resides in the district in which the magnet school is located, but it may charge tuition to the district of residence of a student enrolled in the magnet school who does not reside in the district in which the magnet school is located. The tuition will be charged in accordance with standards established by the commissioner.

The bill directs the commissioner to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by January 1 of the fifth school year of the pilot program. The report is to include an evaluation of the magnet school pilot program and a recommendation on the advisability of the continuation, modification, or expansion of the program to other school districts in the State.