P ROGRAMS TO S UPPORT S TUDENT D EVELOPMENT N.J.A.C. 6A:16

E DUCATION T RANSFORMATION T ASK F ORCE : P ROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE REGULATION Stifles innovation – Educators need autonomy to craft their own path to success, while being held accountable for results. Redirects focus – State requirements that are not focused on student learning, fiscal integrity, or health and safety distract educators from the work that matters most: preparing students to graduate from high school ready for success in life. Focus on compliance – Culture of overregulation can lead educators to expect that regulatory compliance, rather than student learning, defines success. 2

T ASK F ORCE REGULATORY CHANGES – BENEFIT TO EDUCATORS Ease reporting requirements to the State. Reduce unnecessary or burdensome requirements. Provide flexibility in operations. Provide flexibility in programs. Provide flexibility in staffing. Enable high-quality, impactful professional development. Clarify confusing code requirements. 3

B ACKGROUND Purpose of the Chapter: Provides minimum standards for programs and practices to support the health, safety, and social emotional needs of students. Original sunset date: September 15, 2011 State Board first discussion level: March 7, 2011 Some Task Force changes are consistent with first discussion amendments.

G ENERAL C HANGES Removal of duplicative or unnecessary language Clarifications to existing rules Consistency with Statutory language Corrections to Statutory and regulatory citations Grammar, stylistic and organizational revisions

I NCREASE F LEXIBILITY /R EDUCE A DMINISTRATIVE B URDEN Task Force Recommendations Allows districts to hire LPNs or RNs as supplemental noncertified nurses. No longer requires districts to submit nursing services plans or child abuse policies to the ECS for approval. Allows flexibility in the forms used for physical examinations and health history records. Allows for online instruction to be used to provide home instruction, as defined in these regulations. Department of Education Recommendations Allows districts to determine the appropriate number of instructional hours and group sizes for home instruction without a prescriptive formula.

I MPLEMENT N EW S TATUTES Task Force Recommendations Amends HIB definition, aligns reporting requirements, and modifies policies and practices to implement the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights. Department of Education Recommendations Includes rules on the management of food allergies, diabetes and other life threatening illness, and the administration of glucagon and epinephrine. Includes rule requiring policies and procedures for reporting a student who has attempted or contemplated suicide.

R EDUCE O VERLY P RESCRIPTIVE R ULES Task Force Recommendations Removes rules detailing the nursing services that could be performed by the noncertified school nurse. Removes prescriptive procedures for responding to individuals that knowingly falsify violence and vandalism reports. Removes rules for alternative education that set a separate and unnecessary standard. Department of Education Recommendations Allows districts to determine when it is appropriate to make a court referral for unexcused absences/truancy. Allows districts to develop home instruction plans without prescriptive requirements.

C HANGES B ASED ON I NTERAGENCY C OLLABORATIONS Task Force Recommendations Attendance section modified to emphasize positive, graduated interventions for unexcused absences and flexibility to use court enforcement of compulsory education law, as appropriate. (Truancy Interagency Working Group). Department of Education Recommendations Law Enforcement Operations modified for consistency with the Uniform Memorandum of Agreement Between Education and Law Enforcement Officials (Attorney General’s and Commissioner of Education’s Law Enforcement Working Group). Reporting Potentially Missing or Abused Children modified in consultation with Department of Education and Department of Children and Families Working Group.