Bill > A2850

Introduced Session

This bill exempts students with disabilities from the requirement to take college credits under the Bridge Year Pilot Program established pursuant to P.L.2020, c.41, if it is determined that taking college courses would not achieve the goals set out in the student's individualized education program (IEP). As deemed appropriate by the parent or guardian and the IEP team and as provided in a student's individualized education program, a classified student may participate in school district-sponsored vocational and educational programs and receive appropriate transition services in place of the requirement to take college credits. Under the bill, a school district's bridge year liaison is required to collaborate with the student's IEP team to ensure that a classified student's individual learning plan under the Bridge Year Pilot Program is consistent with the student's IEP. The Bridge Year Pilot Program was established with the purpose of providing students in the graduating classes of 2021 and 2022 the opportunity to offset disruptions to learning opportunities and participation in extracurricular activities that might have resulted from the closure of schools to in-person instruction in the spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the fall semester of a student's bridge year, a participating student is generally required to take between nine and 12 credits at the student's host high school, the county college in the county in which the host high school is located, or at a combination of the two. During the spring semester, a student is required to take between nine and 12 credits at the county college in the county in which the host high school is located. The bill also amends the law establishing the pilot program to specify that a classified student, who will turn 21 years of age during a bridge year due to services provided pursuant to an IEP, is eligible to participate in the pilot program. The law currently states that a classified student is eligible to participate in the program if the student will turn 20 years of age during the bridge year.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Anthony Verrelli (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document