Bill Text: NJ S870 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Establishes Dual Enrollment Study Commission.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)
Status: (Passed) 2018-12-17 - Approved P.L.2018, c.145. [S870 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S870-Chaptered.html
T&E
An Act establishing the "Dual Enrollment Study Commission."
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established a Dual Enrollment Study Commission for the purpose of developing a Statewide framework for use in the future implementation of an expanded dual enrollment program. The commission shall consist of 11 members, including the Secretary of Higher Education, ex officio, or a designee; the Commissioner of Education, ex officio, or a designee; the individual who served as the Chair of the College Affordability Study Commission established pursuant to P.L.2015, c.4; and eight members appointed by the Governor, including one from each of the following organizations: the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, the New Jersey Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, and the New Jersey Presidents' Council.
b. Appointments to the commission shall be made within 30 days after the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.
c. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funds made available to the commission for its purposes.
2. a. The commission shall organize as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days following the appointment of the members. The commission shall choose a chairperson from among its members and shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.
b. The Department of Education shall provide such staff and related support services as the commission requires to carry out its work. The commission also shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.
3. a. It shall be the duty of the Dual Enrollment Study Commission to study issues related to the implementation of an expanded dual enrollment program. Through the program, all college-ready high school students will be eligible to enroll in up to 15 college credits at a partnering institution of higher education while still enrolled in high school. The commission shall:
(1) identify the costs associated with the implementation of the program, and develop a fair and reasonable distribution of costs among students, school districts, and institutions of higher education;
(2) survey institutions of higher education about possible tuition discounts;
(3) identify ways to minimize or eliminate the program costs borne by school districts;
(4) study the viability of including transportation services in the program;
(5) review information related to the utilization of dual enrollment programs throughout the State;
(6) study the effect of dual enrollment programs on college participation rates, college graduation rates, and the average time to degree;
(7) assess the rigor of dual enrollment courses, including the academic qualifications of faculty who teach the courses; 1[and]1
(8) develop any other proposals, such as the offering of dual enrollment through online curriculum, that the commission believes would increase the success of an expanded dual enrollment program 1; and
(9) research and develop proposals for sustaining and expanding early college high schools, which is an intensive, evidence-based model of dual enrollment1 .
b. The commission shall issue a Statewide framework for use in the future implementation of an expanded dual enrollment program no later than one year after the commission organizes. The framework shall ensure that dual enrollment programs in effect prior to the organization of the commission are able to continue.
4. This act shall take effect immediately, and the commission shall expire 30 days after the submission of its report.
Establishes Dual Enrollment Study Commission.
