Bill > S3123

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the Safe and Equitable Remote Learning Program in the Department of Education to support the provision of mobile broadband Internet access service and remote learning safe havens by certain eligible districts, including the Camden City School District, the Passaic City School District, the Paterson City School District, and the Trenton City School District. Under this bill, when an eligible district implements a program of virtual or remote instruction, the district would be required to provide mobile broadband Internet access service to the residence of every enrolled student who is eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the State school lunch program and who lacks access to mobile broadband Internet access service. During the period of virtual or remote instruction, the bill requires the eligible district to provide direct payments to the Internet service provider that delivers mobile broadband Internet access service to the residence of each eligible student. Within the limits of available funds, the Department of Education would be required to provide each eligible district with such funding as is necessary to support the required Internet service payments. The districts would then be required to reimburse the department from any federal financial assistance received by the district to address the impact of the declared public health emergency, state of emergency, or other incident causing the program of virtual or remote instruction to be implemented (e.g., monies received under the federal "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act," Pub.L. 116-136). Additionally, the bill provides that when an eligible district implements a program of virtual or remote instruction, the district may, with the approval of the executive county superintendent of schools, establish one or more remote learning safe havens. Each remote learning safe haven would be used for the delivery of remote instruction to enrolled students in accordance with applicable social distancing guidelines. Under the bill, the district would be required to provide mobile broadband Internet access service to the facility. The bill requires this service to be sufficient for every enrolled student who is eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the State school lunch program to participate in remote instructional sessions at the facility. In addition to any other requirements established by the Commissioner of Education, each remote learning safe haven would be required to be: (1) located within a building owned by the federal government, the State, a political subdivision of the State, or a nonprofit organization; and (2) staffed by appropriately licensed school personnel, as approved by the board of education, during all hours of operation. If an eligible district establishes a remote learning safe haven, the department would be required to provide the district with such funding as is necessary to defray the costs of establishing and staffing the facility, as well as providing the facility with mobile broadband Internet access service.

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Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)*,  Shirley Turner (D)*, 

Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading (on 12/16/2021)

Official Document