Bill Text: NJ A4720 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Requires Commissioner of Education to distribute survey to school districts regarding instruction on Holocaust and genocides.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-1)
Status: (Passed) 2023-04-17 - Approved P.L.2023, c.36. [A4720 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A4720-Chaptered.html
An Act concerning instruction on the Holocaust and genocides in the public schools.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Education, in conjunction with the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education, shall, within 60 days of the effective date of this act, develop and distribute a survey regarding instruction on the Holocaust and genocides to the public schools of the State. The survey shall focus on how each school district is meeting the instruction requirements established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1994, c.13 (C.18A:35-28). The survey shall include questions, for all grade levels, on: curriculum content; learning goals; instructional strategies and activities; texts and resources; and assessments. The survey shall also include questions, for teachers with experience providing instruction on the Holocaust and genocide, concerning the need for any additional resources or training to provide the instruction.
b. The commissioner, in conjunction with the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education, shall submit to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), within 210 days of the effective date of this act, a report of the survey findings. Findings shall include detailed results of the survey and, if needed, recommendations to strengthen the instructional requirement.
2. a. The superintendent of each school district, or a designee, shall:
(1) complete the survey distributed by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to section 1 of this act within 60 days of its receipt; and
(2) submit, with the survey response, an attestation affirming that the school district is meeting the instruction requirements established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1994, c.13 (C.18A:35-28).
b. The Commissioner of Education may require the completion of a corrective action plan by:
(1) any school district identified from the survey as not meeting the instruction requirements established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1994, c.13 (C.18A:35-28); or
(2) any school district that fails to submit an attestation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section. The corrective action plan shall be submitted for approval by the Commissioner of Education in such manner and form prescribed by the commissioner.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved April 17, 2023.
