Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Pou
SYNOPSIS
Requires DOE to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Education Committee on May 13, 2021, with amendments.
An Act concerning student learning support and supplementing chapter 36 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 Department of Education shall establish and maintain a central, searchable registry of individuals and organizations interested in offering free tutoring services to students throughout the State. The registry shall contain information provided by each registrant including, but not limited to, the registrant’s name, contact information, subject matter expertise, and a tutoring availability schedule. The department shall make the registry publicly available on its Internet website.
b. The following individuals and organizations may apply to the department for inclusion on the registry established pursuant to subsection a. of this section:
(1) A teacher who holds a New Jersey provisional or standard instructional certificate;
(2) A retired New Jersey teacher who was in good standing at the time of retirement;
(3) A student enrolled in a two- or four-year institution of higher education in the State;
(4) An industry professional with relevant subject matter expertise;
(5) An organization with relevant subject matter expertise; and
(6) Any other person or organization the department deems appropriate.
c. No registrant shall charge or receive any fee for services provided in connection with the central registry established pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
d. 1(1) An individual applying for inclusion on the registry pursuant to subsection b. of this section, other than an individual included in paragraph (1) of subsection b. of this section who has undergone a prior criminal history record check as required by law, shall undergo a criminal history record check pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1986, c.116 (C.18A:6-7.1 et seq.) and shall not be included on the registry established pursuant to subsection a. of this section prior to completion of the criminal history record check.
(2) An organization applying for inclusion on the registry shall submit a statement of assurances to the department affirming that an individual providing tutoring services on behalf of, or as a representative of, the organization has undergone a criminal history record check pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this section. An organization that willfully provides false information under the provisions of this paragraph shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500.
(3) The department may reimburse an individual for the cost of the criminal history check required pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.
e.1 The department shall include on the registry a disclaimer stating that the information regarding individuals and organizations on the registry has not been independently verified and is not meant to be an endorsement or recommendation by the department as to the quality of the tutoring services offered.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.