Bill Text: NJ A1796 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes parental orientation program in certain school districts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A1796 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A1796-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman NANCY F. MUNOZ
District 21 (Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes parental orientation program in certain school districts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act establishing a parental orientation program in certain school districts and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Each school district that received education opportunity aid or preschool expansion aid in the 2007-2008 school year and in which the concentration of at-risk pupils as defined in section 3 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-45) is equal to or greater than 60% of resident enrollment shall establish a parental orientation program for the parents of pupils who are three- or four-years-old and who are entering preschool programs provided by the district or by a child care provider that has sub-contracted with the district. The program shall provide an orientation seminar for the parents, prior to the beginning of the school year, in the facility, or as close to the facility as feasible, that the pupils will attend. The seminar shall be held at a time convenient for the parents, such as during evening hours or on weekends.
b. The seminar shall provide parents with information about the preschool program and any other services or programs sponsored by the State or district for the benefit of preschool pupils and their parents including, but not limited to: the objectives of the preschool program; the school's expectations of the parents and pupils; opportunities for parent-teacher consultation; any dress codes; plans for transportation, if necessary; required health examinations and inoculations; the provisions of the Children's Health Care Coverage Program (New Jersey KidCare); and any other information necessary or appropriate to facilitate a pupil's transition to school and to encourage parental involvement with a child's education.
c. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14A-1 et seq.) to provide standards, procedures and guidelines for the implementation of the program. The regulations shall specify that a district shall incorporate the costs of the parental orientation program in its budget for preschool programs. In developing the content of the orientation seminar, the district shall consult with the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Human Services.
d. The chief school administrator of the district shall submit, on or before September 30 of each year, documentation of the program, method of parental notification, and evidence of the program content to the office of the county superintendent, with a copy to the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, and the Commissioner of Human Services.
e. As used in this section, "parent" means the parent or person who has custody of the pupil.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires each school district that received education opportunity aid or preschool expansion aid in the 2007-2008 school year and in which the concentration of at-risk pupils as defined in section 3 of P.L.2007, c.260 is equal to or greater than 60% of resident enrollment to establish a parental orientation program for the parents of pupils who are three- or four-years-old and who are entering preschool programs provided by the district or by a child care provider that has sub-contracted with the district. The program would provide an orientation seminar for the parents, prior to the beginning of the school year, in the facility, or as close to the facility as feasible, that the pupils will attend. The seminar would be held at a time convenient for the parents, such as during evening hours or on weekends. At the seminar parents would be provided with information about the preschool program and any other services or programs sponsored by the State or district for the benefit of preschool pupils and their parents.
This bill also directs the State Board of Education to promulgate regulations to provide standards, procedures and guidelines for the implementation of the program. The regulations would specify that a district must incorporate the costs of the parental orientation program in its budget for preschool programs. In developing the content of the orientation seminar, the district would consult with the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Human Services.
Additionally, on or before September 30 of each year, the chief school administrator of the district would submit documentation of the program, method of parental notification, and evidence of the program content to the office of the county superintendent, with a copy to the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, and the Commissioner of Human Services.
