Amendments to N.J.A.C. 6A:32

1. Amendments to N.J.A.C. 6A:32

2. Education Transformation Task Force: Problems with excessive regulation Stifles innovation – educators need autonomy to craft their own path to success, while being held accountable for results Redirects focus – State requirements that are not focused on student learning, fiscal integrity, or health and safety distract educators from the work that matters most: preparing students to graduate from high school ready for success in life Focus on compliance – culture of overregulation can lead educators to expect that regulatory compliance, rather than student learning, defines success

3. Task Force regulatory changes – benefit to educators Ease reporting requirements to the State Reduce unnecessary or burdensome requirements Provide flexibility in operations Provide flexibility in programs Provide flexibility in staffing Enable high-quality, impactful professional development Clarify confusing code requirements

4. Chapter 32: General Proposed Amendments • Repeals definitions for the following reasons: • The words are defined elsewhere in NJDOE code; or • The words do not require a regulatory definition because they are widely understood in the field • Modifies grammar and style throughout the chapter for clarification and increased understanding of provisions • Amends all references to “county superintendent” to “executive county superintendent” to align with statute • Removes all references to the Department monitoring system that no longer exists and was replaced with N.J.A.C. 6A:30, Evaluation of School Districts

5. Highlights of Substantive Changes Aligns provisions within the chapter to corresponding statute to streamline the code and to eliminate duplicate requirements for districts. Examples include: • Amending the summer school session requirements with corresponding statute, N.J.S.A. 18A:11-15 in that procedures for tuition charges were added • Aligning district requirements for employee physical examinations with N.J.S.A. 18A:16.2 which specifies the reasons for examinations • Expanding acceptable student identification for enrollment purposes beyond birth certificates and N.J.S.A. 18A:36-25.1 which specifies such • Adding the statutory requirements, N.J.S.A. 18A:13-52.1 and 52, in code for the dissolution of limited purpose regional school districts which were previously omitted

6. Highlights of Substantive Changes Removes duplicate code requirements which are found elsewhere in N.J.A.C. 6A. Examples include: • Eliminating student-athlete physical examination requirements because such examinations found in N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2 • Removing N.J.A.C. 6A:32-15criminal history check because such requirements are located in N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1 for public school employees and N.J.S.A. 18A:12-1 criminal history review of school board members

7. Highlights of Substantive Changes Reduces administrative costs and/or administrative burdens to districts which results in greater flexibility in the daily operation and administration of schools. Examples include: • Eliminating the requirement for districts to maintain paper copies of student records • Allowing districts to store student records in a central location rather than the student’s school • Eliminating the requirement for every school to have a non-teaching principal • Allowing districts to determine acceptable coursework, not only hours, to satisfy advanced course credit during summer school sessions • Eliminating the requirement of ECS approval for the hiring of every paraprofessional staff member • Eliminating the requirement of ECS approval for summer school sessions

8. Highlights of Substantive Changes Eliminates prescriptive requirements for school districts regarding the hiring and employment of school staff. Examples include: • Reducing documentation required by the State for staff hiring to proper certification and licensure • Eliminating the requirements that mandated a teacher’s length of day and lunch period to allow for districts to work establish this within collective bargaining units