Bill Text: NJ A1596 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes pilot program in DOE for special education students to attend college courses or vocational training programs.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A1596 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A1596-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblywoman MICHELE MATSIKOUDIS
District 21 (Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes pilot program in DOE for special education students to attend college courses or vocational training programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning postsecondary planning for students with disabilities and supplementing chapter 46 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Education shall establish a four-year pilot program in which students age 16 or older who are classified as eligible for special education programs and services, as part of the plan of transition services required to be included in the student's individualized education program, will attend courses at an institution of higher education or participate in postsecondary vocational training programs while still enrolled in high school. The purpose of the pilot program shall be to increase the access of students with disabilities to postsecondary opportunities to pursue higher education or career and technical education and to help prepare the students for their desired future goals.
b. Under the pilot program, participating school districts shall partner with county colleges or other local institutions of higher education and with county vocational schools to provide opportunities for students with disabilities to attend courses and programs offered by the institution or school. A participating school district shall make efforts to ensure that, to the extent feasible and when desired by the student, the transition services included in the individualized education program for a student age 16 or older include the opportunity to attend college courses or participate in postsecondary vocational training programs.
c. A school district that wants to participate in the pilot program shall submit a proposal to the commissioner. The proposal shall include information on the following:
(1) the estimated number of students with disabilities enrolled in the district who will be eligible to participate in the pilot program;
(2) identification of the county colleges, four-year institutions of higher education, and county vocational schools that the district will partner with under the program;
(3) the school district's plans for funding any costs associated with participation in the pilot program; and
(4) any additional information as prescribed by the commissioner.
d. The commissioner shall select up to 15 school districts for participation in the pilot program. To the maximum extent possible, the commissioner shall select school districts in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and shall seek a cross section of districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas.
e. A participating school district shall be responsible for the cost of tuition for students with disabilities who attend college courses or participate in postsecondary vocational programs under the pilot program.
2. a. At the conclusion of the pilot program, each participating school district shall submit a report to the commissioner. The report from each district shall include, at a minimum, information on the number of students who participated in the program, the number and specific types of college courses and postsecondary vocational programs attended by the students, feedback collected from students who participated in the program, and the district's views on the success and benefits of the program.
b. After receiving the reports from each participating school district, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program. The report shall include the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional school districts in the State.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Under current State Board of Education regulations at N.J.A.C.6A:14-3.7(e)12, the individualized education program (IEP) for a student with a disability who is age 16 or older must include a statement of appropriate transition services intended to assist the student in preparing for postsecondary goals, such as education, vocational training, and employment. This bill establishes a four-year pilot program in which students age 16 or older who are classified as eligible for special education programs and services, as part of the plan of transition services required to be included in the student's IEP, will attend courses at an institution of higher education or participate in postsecondary vocational training programs while still enrolled in high school. The purpose of the pilot program is to increase the access of students with disabilities to postsecondary opportunities to pursue higher education or career and technical education and to help prepare these students for their desired future goals.
A school district that wants to participate in the pilot program will submit a proposal to the Commissioner of Education, and the commissioner will select up to 15 school districts for participation. To the maximum extent possible, the commissioner will select districts in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and will seek a cross section of districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas. Under the pilot program, participating school districts will partner with county colleges or other local institutions of higher education and with county vocational schools to provide opportunities for students with disabilities to attend courses and programs offered by the institution or school. A participating school district will make efforts to ensure that, to the extent feasible and when desired by the student, the transition services included in the IEP for a student age 16 or older include the opportunity to attend college courses or participate in postsecondary vocational training programs. Under the bill, the participating school districts will be responsible for the tuition costs for students with disabilities who attend college courses or participate in postsecondary vocational programs under the pilot program.
At the conclusion of the pilot program, the bill requires each participating school district to submit a report to the Commissioner of Education, which includes information on the number of students who participated in the program, the number and specific types of college courses and postsecondary vocational programs attended by the students, feedback collected from students who participated in the program, and the district's views on the success and benefits of the program. The bill directs the commissioner, after receiving the reports from the participating districts, to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program. The report also will include the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional school districts in the State.
