Bill > A1621

Introduced Session

Under current State Board of Education regulations at N.J.A.C.6A:14-3.7(e)12, the individualized education program (IEP) for a student with a disability who is age 16 or older must include a statement of appropriate transition services intended to assist the student in preparing for postsecondary goals, such as education, vocational training, and employment. This bill establishes a four-year pilot program in which students age 16 or older who are classified as eligible for special education programs and services, as part of the plan of transition services required to be included in the student's IEP, will attend courses at an institution of higher education or participate in postsecondary vocational training programs while still enrolled in high school. The purpose of the pilot program is to increase the access of students with disabilities to postsecondary opportunities to pursue higher education or career and technical education and to help prepare these students for their desired future goals. A school district that wants to participate in the pilot program will submit a proposal to the Commissioner of Education, and the commissioner will select up to 15 school districts for participation. To the maximum extent possible, the commissioner will select districts in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and will seek a cross section of districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas. Under the pilot program, participating school districts will partner with county colleges or other local institutions of higher education and with county vocational schools to provide opportunities for students with disabilities to attend courses and programs offered by the institution or school. A participating school district will make efforts to ensure that, to the extent feasible and when desired by the student, the transition services included in the IEP for a student age 16 or older include the opportunity to attend college courses or participate in postsecondary vocational training programs. Under the bill, the participating school districts will be responsible for the tuition costs for students with disabilities who attend college courses or participate in postsecondary vocational programs under the pilot program. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the bill requires each participating school district to submit a report to the Commissioner of Education, which includes information on the number of students who participated in the program, the number and specific types of college courses and postsecondary vocational programs attended by the students, feedback collected from students who participated in the program, and the district's views on the success and benefits of the program. The bill directs the commissioner, after receiving the reports from the participating districts, to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program. The report also will include the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of the program's continuation and expansion to additional school districts in the State.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Mila Jasey (D)*,  Pam Lampitt (D)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 01/14/2020)

Official Document