ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1084

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 15, 1996

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1084 with committee amendments.

      As amended by committee, this bill provides that a public high school student who wishes to take a foreign language course not offered in the resident public school district may complete and receive credit toward high school graduation for a foreign language course offered by a religious organization or any other non-public school organization or entity. In order to receive credit for the course, the pupil must meet local district proficiency requirements.

      The committee amended the bill to clarify that the foreign language course must be one which is not offered within the school district and to provide that in order to receive credit toward high school graduation, the student must meet local district proficiency requirements. The amendments also delete the provision which authorized credit toward district graduation requirements if the student passed an appropriate standardized content test as determined by the State Board of Education and directed the State board to determine the number of credits which would be awarded to the student.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.