ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2811

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  JUNE 9, 2021

 

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2811 (1R) with committee amendments.

      As amended, this bill requires the annual school report card to include information concerning the number of mental health professionals and school safety specialists employed by each school district.

      Under current law, the Commissioner of Education is required to administer the School Report Card Program, which provides for the annual preparation and dissemination of school report cards for parents and other interested parties within each district.  As required by law, the school report card contains information and data concerning academic achievement, district spending, student discipline, and various other items.

      Under this bill, the annual report card submitted by a school district would also be required to include the following information for each school within the district: (1) the number of mental health professionals, including school psychologists, school counselors, social workers, student assistance coordinators, and other mental health professionals, and the ratio of students to the total number of mental health professionals; and (2) the number of school safety specialists. 

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4838, which was also amended and reported by the committee on this same date. 

 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to remove a requirement that the number of school security personnel be included in a school report card.  The committee also amended the bill to require that the number of school safety specialists be included in a school report card.