The committee released A5492 (and the reprint of the Senate substitute S3982), bills that require school districts to provide certain information to parents at least two business days prior to an annual individualized education program (IEP) team meeting and that establish an IEP improvement working group in the Department of Education.

Committee members noted broad stakeholder registration in favor; six groups filed slips supporting the bill and did not take oral testimony at the hearing. Those registrants included the New Jersey Public Charter School Association, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), the New Jersey Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association, New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA), the New Jersey Children’s Foundation and others.

The committee moved and seconded the motion to release the bills; a roll call recorded unanimous support among members present. Committee materials presented the bills as intended to increase parental notice and create a state working group to improve IEP practices.

No opposition testimony was recorded in the hearing. With committee release, the bills advance for further legislative action and may require Department of Education implementation planning if enacted.