Requires Commissioner of Education to review school safety and security plans.
Impact
The bill requires the commissioner to conduct a thorough review of each school district's plan, evaluating essential factors such as current emergency notification lists, assigned responsibilities for faculty and staff, building access procedures, and protocols for handling various emergency scenarios, including active shooter situations. This review will also assess policies on bullying prevention and ensure that comprehensive hazard analyses are in place. As a result, districts will receive feedback on any identified weaknesses along with recommendations for improvement.
Summary
Senate Bill 2780, introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, mandates that every board of education must submit its districtwide school safety and security plan to the Commissioner of Education within six months of the bill's enactment. This review process is designed to ensure that schools have effective measures in place to protect students and staff, particularly in emergency situations. The requirements align with existing state regulations that all school districts must have a safety and security plan, highlighting the focus on school safety in educational policy.
Contention
Notably, the bill's push for a mandated review system may provoke discussions on the adequacy of existing safety measures and the resources available for schools to comply with these regulations. While proponents argue that the enhanced oversight will lead to greater safety and preparedness in schools, critics may raise concerns about the potential administrative burden on districts, especially those that may be struggling to meet existing requirements. The bill aims to create a uniform standard across various districts, which could lead to discrepancies in how these standards are implemented and the effectiveness of the reviewed plans.
Requires certain documentation of needs of students with disabilities during school security drills and emergency situations and in school security plans; requires staff training on needs of students with disabilities in emergency planning.
Requires certain documentation of needs of students with disabilities during school security drills and emergency situations and in school security plans; requires staff training on needs of students with disabilities in emergency planning.
Permits high performing school districts to be monitored by DOE under New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJ QSAC) every seven years rather than every three years.