Sponsored by:
Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Commissioner of Education to prepare report on learning loss of students with developmental disabilities during COVID-19 public health emergency.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning learning loss of students with developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Education shall prepare a study of learning loss experienced by students with developmental disabilities as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The study shall focus on the increased use of virtual instruction, programs, and services for students with developmental disabilities during the public health emergency, and the impact on students' academic outcomes.
The study shall include a comparison of the current skill levels of students with developmental disabilities with their skill levels prior to the public health emergency. In preparing the analysis, the commissioner shall collect and review a variety of resources including, but not limited to:
(1) any comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations or State or locally-administered standardized assessments completed by the students;
(2) data on the use of compensatory education services provided to students;
(3) data on the attendance and participation rates of students; and
(4) feedback from parents of students on the unique challenges their children have faced due to changes in the academic program or service delivery during the public health emergency, and any learning loss or other regression observed by the parent during this time period.
b. The Commissioner of Education shall report findings and recommendations made pursuant to this section to the Governor and to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), within 180 days of the effective date of this act.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon submission of the Commissioner's report pursuant to section 1 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to prepare a study of learning loss experienced by students with developmental disabilities as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Under the bill, the study will focus on the increased use of virtual instruction, programs, and services for students with developmental disabilities during the public health emergency, and the impact on students' academic outcomes.
Under the bill, the study must include a comparison of the current skill levels of students with developmental disabilities with their skill levels prior to the public health emergency. In preparing the analysis, the commissioner is directed to collect and review a variety of resources including, but not limited to:
· any comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations or State or locally-administered standardized assessments completed by the students;
· data on the use of compensatory education services provided to students;
· data on the attendance and participation rates of students; and
· feedback from parents of students on the unique challenges their children have faced due to changes in the academic program or service delivery during the public health emergency, and any learning loss or other regression observed by the parent during this time period.
· The bill directs the commissioner to submit a report including findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within 180 days of the bill's effective date.