Requires school district that includes any of grades 9 through 12 to biannually provide to local Workforce Investment Board list of students who left school prior to graduation.
This legislation is expected to enhance the state's capability to track and address the needs of students who drop out of high school. By ensuring that local Workforce Investment Boards receive timely information on dropouts, the bill aims to promote efforts to re-engage these students and connect them with educational or vocational resources. Currently, this practice is based on an older directive from the Department of Education and a supporting opinion from the Attorney General, highlighting the ongoing need for systemic data sharing between schools and workforce agencies in New Jersey.
Assembly Bill A1833 mandates that school districts which include grades 9 through 12 must provide a list to their local Workforce Investment Board of students who have left school before graduation. This list is to include the names, last known addresses, and telephone numbers of the students who did not indicate a desire to complete their high school education at another institution. The reporting is to occur biannually, with deadlines set for February 15 and July 15 of each school year. The intent of this bill is to ensure that workforce boards have access to pertinent information regarding students who may need additional outreach or support in transitioning to the workforce or further education.
There may be potential contention surrounding the implementation of this bill. Opponents may argue that providing personal information about students, such as home addresses and phone numbers, raises privacy concerns. Additionally, the effectiveness of such a reporting requirement could be debated, particularly regarding how the local Workforce Investment Boards will utilize the data to positively impact student outcomes. Supporters, however, are expected to emphasize the importance of this data in crafting effective outreach programs and ensuring that educational gaps are addressed.