S3479

An Act establishing the Alleviating Learning Loss in New Jersey Grant Program in the Department of Education.

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

1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated increase in the use of virtual and remote instruction have profoundly impacted elementary and secondary school students across the State in many ways.

b. While the provision of instruction through the use of virtual or remote technologies in a full-time or hybrid manner has been necessary to limit student and staff exposure to COVID-19, one significant effect of decreasing in-person instruction is learning loss experienced by students.

c. Research has shown that, although online learning can provide many opportunities and benefits to students, it is generally not as effective in achieving similar levels of academic achievement, when compared to in-person instruction delivered in a classroom setting.

d. The difference between the overall efficacy of in-person instruction and that of online instruction is exacerbated if students do not have consistent or reliable access to the Internet and the electronic devices needed to complete online work.

e. In addition to the gap in potential learning gains stemming from online learning versus in-person instruction, the use of virtual or remote instruction also can hinder the development of students’ social and emotional skills as they may not have as much face-to-face contact with their friends and fellow classmates and as their participation in extracurricular activities may be reduced.

f. Several preliminary studies and projections of learning loss conducted by education experts and research organizations have indicated that students may, on average, lose several months of overall learning as the use of virtual or remote instruction continues. The learning loss experienced by a student may be more acute depending on a number of factors, including the student’s grade level, race, and income level and the quality of online instruction and subject area.

g. Although education communities across the State have rapidly and commendably transformed the way in which they deliver education to students, it is fitting and proper that school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools are afforded more resources and supports to address learning loss resulting from the proliferated use of virtual and remote instruction.

2. There is established in the Department of Education the Alleviating Learning Loss in New Jersey Grant Program. The purpose of the grant program shall be to provide funds to school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools for the creation or expansion of summer learning programs during the summer of 2021 and other student support programs during the 2021-2022 school year, which seek to mitigate student learning loss resulting from COVID-19 related school closures or the use of virtual or remote instruction.

3. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school seeking funds under the Alleviating Learning Loss in New Jersey Grant Program shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Education in accordance with application procedures and requirements prescribed by the commissioner. The grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis in amounts to be determined by the commissioner upon review of applications submitted by districts or schools. When selecting the recipients of grant funds under the program, the commissioner shall give priority to school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools that:

a. have not established for the summer of 2021 a summer learning program; and

b. have a student population in which 20 percent or more of the students enrolled in the district or school are eligible for free or reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program.

4. An application submitted to the Commissioner of Education pursuant to section 3 of this act shall include:

a. a general description of the summer learning program to be established or expanded for the summer of 2021 or of any other student support program to be established or expanded for the 2021-2022 school year. The general description shall, at a minimum, detail how the creation or expansion of a program will address learning loss resulting from COVID-19 related school closures or the use of virtual or remote instruction;

b. details on any instruction and other learning supports and services that will be provided to students participating in a program;

c. a description of any integrated services and supports that may be provided to participating students including, but not limited to, meals and health, counseling, and mental health services;

d. information concerning any compensatory services that may be provided to students with disabilities under the programs;

e. details concerning any efforts, including the use of diagnostic tools and assessments, that have been or will be undertaken by the school district, charter school, or renaissance school to measure the level of learning loss among participating students or the student population at large;

f. how the instruction and other services and supports provided to students participating in a summer learning program may be continued during the 2021-2022 school year;

g. a description of any student eligibility criteria or prioritization under a program detailed in the application;

h. an estimate of the number of students who will participate in a program to be established or expanded during the summer of 2021 or the 2021-2022 school year, as applicable;

i. an estimate of the total cost associated with establishing or expanding a program; and

j. any other information as required by the commissioner to evaluate the effectiveness of a proposed program creation or expansion in addressing student learning loss.

5. To the extent permitted by federal law, the grants awarded pursuant to section 3 of this act shall be paid from the monies received by the State under the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,” Pub.L.116-136, or any other financial assistance provided by the federal government to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on elementary and secondary schools.

6. Notwithstanding any provision of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), or any other law to the contrary, the Commissioner of Education may adopt, immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law and no later than the 90th day after the effective date of this act, such rules and regulations as the commissioner deems necessary to implement the provisions of this act, which regulations shall be effective for a period not to exceed 12 months. The regulations shall thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).

7. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes in the Department of Education the Alleviating Learning Loss in New Jersey Grant Program. The purpose of the grant program is to provide funds to school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools for the creation or expansion of summer learning programs and other student support programs during the summer of 2021 and the 2021-2022 school year. The programs are to address student learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 related school closures or the use of virtual or remote instruction.

A school district, charter school, or renaissance school seeking funds under the Alleviating Learning Loss in New Jersey Grant Program is required to submit an application to the Commissioner of Education. When selecting districts or schools for funding under the grant program, the commissioner is required to give priority to school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools that: 1) have not established for the summer of 2021 a summer learning program; and 2) have a student population in which 20 percent or more of the students enrolled in the district or school are eligible for free or reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program.

Under the bill, an application submitted to the commissioner will include a general description of a summer learning program to be established or expanded for the summer of 2021 or of any other student support program to be established or expanded for the 2021-2022 school year. The general description will, at a minimum, detail how the creation or expansion of a program will address learning loss resulting from COVID-19 related school closures or the use of virtual or remote instruction. An application will also detail the instruction, learning supports and services, and other integrated supports and services that will be provided to participating students. Further, an application will include: a description of any student eligibility criteria or prioritization under a program; an estimate of the number of students who will participate in a program to be established or expanded during the summer of 2021 or the 2021-2022 school year, as applicable; and an estimate of the total cost associated with establishing or expanding a program.

To the extent permitted by federal law, grants awarded under the grant program would be paid from the monies received by the State under the federal “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act” or any other financial assistance provided by the federal government to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on elementary and secondary schools.