Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CRAIG A. STANLEY
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires compliance with testing provisions of the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001" only if those requirements are supported through federal funds.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning Statewide assessments and supplementing chapter 7C 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. The Statewide assessments administered to public school students shall be in conformance with the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001," Pub.L.107-110 (20 U.S.C. s.6301 et seq.), provided that any costs imposed on the State or school districts to conform the State's assessment program with the requirements of that act shall be paid exclusively from federal funds received by the State or school districts pursuant to the provisions of that act.
b. The Commissioner of Education shall determine the estimated additional costs to the State and school districts of complying with the assessment requirements of the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001," the amount of federal funds appropriated for that purpose under the act, and the estimated amount of those federal funds to be received by the State and school districts. The commissioner shall report his findings to the Governor, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and the Senate and Assembly Education Committees by January 1, 2007.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that the Statewide assessments administered to public school students will be in conformance with the provisions of the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001" (NCLB) only if the costs imposed on the State or school districts to conform the State's assessment program with the requirements of the federal act are paid exclusively from federal funds received by the State or school districts under the provisions of the NCLB.
The bill also directs the Commissioner of Education to determine the estimated additional costs to the State and school districts of complying with the assessment requirements of the NCLB, the amount of federal funds appropriated for that purpose, and the estimated amount of those federal funds to be received by the State and school districts. The commissioner will report his findings to the Governor, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and the Senate and Assembly Education Committees by January 1, 2007.