October 8, 2016
This special announcement will provide you with up-to-date information on pertinent educational issues that are part of the State Board's agenda.
Eyes on the NJ State Board of Education
Meeting Date: October 5, 2016
2016-2017 New Jersey Teacher of the Year
NJASA Member and Pascack Valley Regional High School District Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Dr. Barry Bachenheimer congratulates Pascack Valley High School Music Teacher Argine Safari for being named New Jersey's 2016-17
State Teacher of the Year
. Missing from photo is Pascack Valley Regional High School District Chief Education Officer P. Erik Gundersen. He was meeting with United States President Obama at the White House.
Human Trafficking Awareness Collaborative: The Ugly Truth - No Community is Immune
Register for one of three full-day regional symposiums, Nov. 18, Sewell; Dec. 6, New Brunswick; or Jan. 27, Lyndhurst
Regulatory Flexibility and Relief Package
The State Board approved for publication in the December 5th
NJ Register the amendments proposed at
N.J.A.C. 6A:3, 6A:9, 6A:11, 6A:32, pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 18A:4-15. There are
no changes to this
package since the State Board's first discussion of it back in September. Open testimony will be heard in January 2017 and comments will be received until February 3, 2017.
The Department
proposes to repeal or amend several regulatory provisions that are either unnecessary or duplicative for the following:
N.J.A.C. 6A:3, Controversies and Disputes
N.J.A.C. 6A:9, Professional Standards - Subchapter 3 Professional Standards for Teachers and Professional Standards for School Leaders
N.J.A.C. 6A:9-3.4 Professional Standards for School Leaders
This section sets forth the
Professional Standards for School Leaders, which is a set of standards that identifies the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that school leaders should exhibit.
NJDOE proposes to replace the standards with an incorporation by reference to the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015 developed by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA). The State's current Professional Standards for School Leaders are based on the 1996 Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Professional Standards, which the State adopted in 2003. The proposed professional standards are based on the 2008 ISLLC Professional Standards for School Leaders developed by ISLLC. NPBEA acquired the ISLLC standards in 2015 and updated them under the name Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015.
Replacing the text of the professional standards with a reference to the NPBEA Professional Standards for Education Leaders will signify the State's desire to adopt the national standards as written and in full. The State Professional Learning Committee reviewed the revised standards and
recommended NJDOE adopt the 2015 NPBEA standards as New Jersey's Professional Standards for School Leaders.
Much about the educational leadership role has changed since New Jersey adopted its current set of standards, and the revised 2015 standards are grounded in the most current knowledge based on research and practice. The revised standards reflect changing expectations for educational leaders, the complexity of the role, and a better understanding of the importance of the leader's role for improved and equitable student outcomes. The revised standards will guide leadership practice toward a holistic emphasis on learning outcomes and the conditions of community and caring that support learning outcomes, and they will inform State policies on leadership preparation, licensing, induction, professional development, and evaluation.
NJDOE also proposes at
N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-12.4(a)2 and 12.5(a)2, (k)2ii, (k)3, (l)3, and (m)2 to replace references to "
N.J.A.C. 6A:9-3.4(a)1 through 6" with "
N.J.A.C. 6A:9-3.4" to reflect the proposed change.
N.J.A.C. 6A:11, Charter Schools
N.J.A.C. 6A:32, School District Operations
Second Discussion
Fiscal Accountability, Efficiency and Budgeting Procedures (Division of Executive Services)
At the State Board's September meeting, NJDOE Division of Executive Services/Chief of Staff/Assistant Commissioner William Haldeman and NJDOE Chief Financial Officer Kevin Dehmer provided an
overview to the State Board. Since that presentation, there have been no substantial changes to NJDOE's proposal to readopt N.J.A.C. 6A:23A,
Fiscal Accountability, Efficiency and Budgeting Procedures, Subchapters 16 through 22 with amendments.
Subchapters 16 through 22 provide for fiscal accountability, financial accounting and recordkeeping, calculation of tuition for public schools and private schools for students with disabilities (PSSDs), residency determination, and the financial operations of charter schools.
Current Subchapters 16 through 22 previously were located in
N.J.A.C. 6A:23, Finance and Business Services, until November 18, 2009, when the State Board voted to recodify the chapter as
N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-16 through 22. Shortly before the recodification, the Commissioner adopted the first two phases of its fiscal accountability regulations as
N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-1 through 15. The combination of all 22 subchapters compiled under one chapter all regulations concerning the fiscal operations of school districts, charter schools, and PSSDs.
Subchapters 16 through 22 are proposed for readoption as State Board of Education rules consistent with the original authority that established the regulations.
The Commissioner also will be proposing a simultaneous rulemaking for the readoption of Subchapters 1 through 15 pursuant to the original authority that established the subchapters.
N.J.A.C. 6A:23A expires on November 25, 2016.
First Discussion
NJDOE Assistant Commissioner/Chief Legal and External Affairs Officer Patricia Morgan and staff
informed the State Board of the rationale for Regulatory Changes. The Charter School Program Act of 1995 (CSPA) was signed into law in 1996 to establish charter schools to promote comprehensive educational reform by offering charter school operators greater autonomy and opportunities for innovation in exchange for greater accountability for student outcomes.
Despite high performance, regulatory roadblocks inhibit charter innovation. NJDOE has worked with charter leaders throughout New Jersey and national charter experts to develop regulatory recommendations to provide greater autonomy for charter schools.
NJDOE proposes to add, amend, repeal, and recodify rules in five chapters in Title 6A of the
New Jersey Administrative Code to achieve the following:
* Permit a weighted lottery for charter school enrollment;
* Establish an expedited renewal process for high-performing charters;
* Permit single-purpose charter schools;
* Ease the way for charter schools to secure facilities and capital funding;
* Establish a pilot program for charter-specific teacher, administrator, and school business administrator certifications;
* Streamline procedures around budgetary controls and fund monitoring; and
* Enact other regulatory changes.
The State Board will revisit this topic in November.
Slated for Proposal Level at the November Meeting
Interdistrict Public School Choice (Division of Legal & External Affairs)
The State Board discussed the sunset readoption
without amendments to the regulations pertaining to school choice proposed at
N.J.A.C. 6A:12, pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 18A:36B-14 through 24 and
N.J.S.A. 18A:4-15. NJDOE will
continue to assess the efficiency of the program and after a thorough review will propose any needed amendments.
The chapter is designed to assist school districts interested in applying to and implementing the Interdistrict Public School Choice program (choice program). It has been in operation for six years in its expanded form and has experienced tremendous growth in the number of participating school districts and student enrollments. The choice program has been successful in achieving its purpose: to increase options and flexibility for parents and students in selecting a school that best meets the needs of each student.
Public comment regarding Interdistrict Public School Choice will be heard at formal testimony after the November 2nd State Board meeting.
Student Residency (Division of Executive Services)
The State Board discussed the sunset readoption with amendments proposed at N.J.A.C. 6A:22, Student Residency, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-1.
Chapter 22 was recodified from
N.J.A.C. 6A:28-2, Entitlement to Attend School Based on Domicile or Residency in District, effective October 4, 2004. The chapter was readopted as R.2010 d.025, effective December 22, 2009.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at
agallagher@njasa.net
or 609-599-2900, ext. 126.
Sincerely,
Anne H. Gallagher
NJASA Director of Communications
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