Bill Text: NJ A5130 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires use of common enrollment system in renaissance school districts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-05 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A5130 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A5130-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PATRICIA EGAN JONES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman WILLIAM W. SPEARMAN
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Requires use of common enrollment system in renaissance school districts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning renaissance school districts and supplementing chapter 36C of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8 of P.L.2011, c.176 (C.18A:36C-8) or any other law to the contrary, the superintendent, or State superintendent, as may be applicable, of a renaissance school district that has established one or more renaissance school projects shall establish and operate, or enter into a contract with a separate entity to operate, a common enrollment system. All district schools, charter schools, and renaissance school projects in the renaissance school district shall be required to participate in the common enrollment system. The common enrollment system shall include measures to ensure that each school is equitably serving students with disabilities, English language learners, and all other students. The common enrollment system may grant enrollment priority to a student who has been impacted by a school closure.
b. As used in this section, "common enrollment system" means an enrollment procedure under which students shall apply to enroll in any district school, charter school, or renaissance school project located in the renaissance school district through a streamlined application process that requires the completion of one application for multiple schools, and which includes measures to ensure that each school is equitably serving students with disabilities, English language learners, and all other students.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires that the superintendent or State superintendent, as applicable, of a renaissance school district establish a common enrollment system, meaning a system under which students are required to apply to public schools located in the district through a single application. All public schools located in the renaissance school district, including schools operated by the district, charter schools, and renaissance school projects, would be required to participate.
Renaissance school districts are districts with a history of poor performance on Statewide assessments that elect to enter into an agreement with a nonprofit entity for the construction and operation of new public schools in that district. These schools are known as renaissance school projects. The Camden City School District is the only district that has entered into such an agreement and is the only district affected by the bill's provisions.
