Establishes High Efficiency Accelerated Learning Grant Program and Tutoring Advisory Commission.
Impact
The bill mandates the creation of a dedicated fund to support local education providers, including public school districts, charter schools, and partnerships between these entities, to develop tutoring programs. These programs must adhere to stringent criteria to ensure high-quality instruction, such as maintaining small group sizes and using data-driven assessments to track student progress. The grant structure will allow local education providers to receive matching funds for tutoring initiatives, fostering an incentive for schools to implement effective tutoring programs. This initiative is positioned as a crucial step in reinforcing the educational framework within New Jersey amidst ongoing recovery efforts.
Summary
Assembly Bill A1666 aims to establish the High Efficiency Accelerated Learning Grant Program in New Jersey to provide high-impact tutoring opportunities designed to address educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The intent behind this legislation is to mitigate learning loss, particularly affecting students across the state, and to ensure that educational disparities that worsened during the pandemic are effectively addressed. The proposed program will be overseen by the Tutoring Advisory Commission, which is tasked with evaluating and implementing the grant program.
Contention
While proponents argue the bill provides much-needed support for student learning and can alleviate teacher burdens through innovative partnerships with educator preparation programs, there may be concerns regarding the execution of such programs. Local education providers must navigate the compliance and quality assurance measures set by the Tutoring Advisory Commission. Additionally, the potential for disparate access to resources among various school districts could lead to uneven outcomes, sparking debate over equal educational opportunities. The success of this program will hinge on effective implementation and the ability to adapt to the diverse needs of students throughout the state.
Requires Commissioner of Education to establish matching grant program for certain school districts and schools using federal funds to increase instructional time and accelerate learning.
Requires Commissioner of Education to establish matching grant program for certain school districts and schools using federal funds to increase instructional time and accelerate learning.
Establishes matching grant program in DOE for school districts to implement high-impact tutoring programs addressing learning loss due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Establishes a pilot program to provide grants to local education providers to implement high-impact tutoring programs prioritizing low-income or underserved students to address student learning loss or unfinished learning resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Establishes a pilot program to provide grants to local education providers to implement high-impact tutoring programs prioritizing low-income or underserved students to address student learning loss or unfinished learning resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.