S2780

An Act concerning teacher and staff training on trauma-informed education in public schools and supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. As used in this act:

“Adverse childhood experiences,” or ACEs, mean potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood, which may include: experiencing violence or abuse; witnessing violence in the home or community; or having a family member attempt or die by suicide. ACEs also include aspects of the child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding such as growing up in a household with: substance misuse; mental health problems; instability due to parental separation; or household members who are incarcerated. “Trauma-informed education” means a school-wide approach to education and a classroom-based approach to student learning that recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in students, families, and staff and responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma-informed policies, professional learning, procedures and practices for the purposes of recognizing the presence and onset of trauma, resisting the reoccurrence of trauma, and promoting resiliency; and

2. A school district shall annually provide information and training to each teaching staff member and board member on the concept of trauma-informed education, as a method to combat the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences on children’s cognitive functioning, as well as on their physical, social, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. The district shall utilize the guidelines and resources provided by the Department of Education pursuant to section 3 of this act in meeting this requirement.

3. a. The Department of Education shall develop and distribute to school districts guidelines concerning trauma-informed education. The purpose of the guidelines shall be to provide direction to school districts in fulfilling the professional training requirement established pursuant to section 2 of this act.

b. The guidelines shall include, but need not be limited to, research-based information regarding:

(1) the impact of trauma on students’ educational experiences and on the school and classroom culture;

(2) how to identify the signs of trauma in students;

(3) best practices for schools and classrooms regarding trauma-informed approaches to education; and

(4) recognition of the impact of secondary trauma on school employees.

4. This act shall take effect in the first full school year following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill requires each school district to annually provide information and training to each teaching staff member and board member on the concept of trauma-informed education, as a method to combat the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences on children’s cognitive functioning, as well as on their physical, social, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Under the bill, the district is directed to avail itself of the guidelines and resources on this topic provided by the Department of Education pursuant to the bill’s provisions.

Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Education to develop and distribute to school districts guidelines concerning trauma-informed education. The purpose of the guidelines will be to provide direction to school districts in fulfilling the professional training requirement established pursuant to the bill’s provisions.

Under the bill, the guidelines must include, but need not be limited to, research-based information regarding:

· the impact of trauma on students’ educational experiences and on the school and classroom culture;

· how to identify the signs of trauma in students;

· best practices for schools and classrooms regarding trauma-informed approaches to education; and

· recognition of the impact of secondary trauma on school employees.