A bi-partisan measure introduced by leaders in the Senate and Assembly would require the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) to train teachers and administrators, and monitor districts on bias and discrimination in special education classification.
If passed into law, the NJDOE would be required to establish in-service workshops and training programs to train public school teachers and administrators on procedures to prevent the inappropriate over-identification or disproportionate representation by race and ethnicity of students classified eligible for special education programs and services. Local districts would be required to ensure that all teachers and administrators are provided with this training.
In addition, the bill requires school districts to provide annual data to NJDOE on the race and ethnicity of students in the district classified eligible for special education programs and services, along with such other related information, as the department deems appropriate. Should data show significant disproportionality based on race and ethnicity occurring in the district with respect to the identification or placements of these students, the department would be required to assist the district in taking appropriate action.
