Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students.
Impact
The establishment of this registry is expected to have a significant impact on the educational landscape in New Jersey, particularly in providing supplementary learning support to students in need. By ensuring that individuals offering tutoring services are vetted through criminal history record checks, the state aims to enhance the safety and reliability of these services. Additionally, the provision that registrants may not charge for their tutoring services is intended to ensure accessibility, particularly for families who may not afford paid tutoring options. This initiative supports the state's commitment to educational equity and improving student outcomes.
Summary
Assembly Bill 2189, introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, mandates the Department of Education (DOE) to collaborate with a nonprofit organization to create and maintain a central registry. This registry will list individuals and organizations willing to provide free tutoring services to students throughout the state. The registry will include essential details such as the name, contact information, subject matter expertise, and availability schedule of each tutor, and will be publicly accessible via the DOE's website. This initiative is aimed at enhancing educational support for students in New Jersey by making tutoring resources more readily available and organized.
Contention
While the bill seeks to enhance student support through organized tutoring, it raises some points of contention regarding the vetting process and the mandatory criminal history checks for tutors. Critics may argue that the requirement for background checks could deter qualified individuals from participating in the registry, particularly volunteers or professionals who may have otherwise contributed to community educational efforts. Furthermore, there may be concerns about the effectiveness of such a registry in truly addressing the diverse educational needs of students, as it relies on the availability and willingness of volunteers or professionals to provide their services for free, which may not always align with the needs or preferences of students from different backgrounds.
Carry Over
Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students.
Carry Over
Requires DOE to partner with nonprofit organization to establish central registry of individuals and organizations interested in providing supplemental tutoring support to students.
Requires Office of Homelessness Prevention to contract with county agencies or nonprofits to issue certain identification and birth certificates to individuals experiencing homelessness; appropriates $2 million.