New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Senate Bill S2794

Introduced
2/15/24  

Caption

Establishes Task Force on Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities to study various issues including improving and streamlining tuition-setting process, funding, and fiscal accountability.

Impact

The bill aims to enhance the fiscal management and operational transparency of approved private schools for students with disabilities. By focusing on cost control and better practices within these schools, the task force seeks to identify ways to streamline educational expenses while ensuring that students receive quality educational services. This initiative is expected to provide a clearer understanding of the financial implications of these schools on both state budgets and taxpayer responsibilities by comparing the costs and outcomes of approved private schools versus public educational programs.

Summary

Senate Bill S2794 introduces the establishment of a Task Force on Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities in New Jersey. This task force aims to study and provide recommendations regarding the tuition-setting process, funding mechanisms, and fiscal accountability associated with approved private schools serving students with disabilities. The task force will consist of 19 members, including state officials and representatives from various educational and advocacy organizations. This action arises from the acknowledgment that approximately 11,000 students depend on such institutions to accommodate their complex educational needs, which cannot be met within public school systems due to the severity of their disabilities.

Contention

Notably, S2794 surfaces amid concerns over proposed regulations from the State Board of Education that could adversely affect the operation of approved private schools. Child advocacy organizations and stakeholders have expressed worries that these regulations may inadvertently undermine the capabilities of these schools to serve special needs students effectively. The establishment of the task force serves as a counterbalance to these concerns, allowing for a thorough investigation into the best practices for managing these institutions and their funding, while engaging parents, educators, and industry advocates in the process.

Companion Bills

NJ A4112

Same As Establishes Task Force on Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities to study various issues including improving and streamlining tuition-setting process, funding, and fiscal accountability.

NJ A2509

Carry Over Establishes Task Force on Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities to study various issues including improving and streamlining tuition-setting process, funding, and fiscal accountability.

NJ S2401

Carry Over Establishes Task Force on Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities to study various issues including improving and streamlining tuition-setting process, funding, and fiscal accountability.

Previously Filed As

NJ S2401

Establishes Task Force on Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities to study various issues including improving and streamlining tuition-setting process, funding, and fiscal accountability.

NJ A2509

Establishes Task Force on Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities to study various issues including improving and streamlining tuition-setting process, funding, and fiscal accountability.

NJ A4112

Establishes Task Force on Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities to study various issues including improving and streamlining tuition-setting process, funding, and fiscal accountability.

NJ A4396

Establishes timelines for review and approval by Commissioner of Education of annual certified audits submitted by approved private schools for students with disabilities.

NJ A1661

Establishes timelines for review and approval by Commissioner of Education of annual certified audits submitted by approved private schools for students with disabilities.

NJ S3917

Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force.

NJ A5310

Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force.

NJ S2927

Establishes timelines for review and approval by Commissioner of Education of annual certified audits submitted by approved private schools for students with disabilities.

NJ A2514

Permits approved private schools for students with disabilities to include in tuition calculation hourly rates for healthcare provider consultants which equal average hourly rates paid by certain public schools serving students with disabilities.

NJ A2515

Requires DOE to define expenditures for behavior modification at approved private schools for students with disabilities as allowable instructional cost for purposes of tuition rate setting.

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