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Board hears legislative update on counselor certification, cell-phone guidance and other bills
Summary
Board member Alyssa Eisner summarized several state bills of interest to school boards, including proposals on school counselor certification, cursive handwriting instruction, a public-service scholarship program and a Department of Education cell-phone/social-media guidance bill.
During the March 12 meeting, legislative liaison Mrs. Alyssa Eisner briefed the board on recent activity in the state legislature affecting schools.
Eisner reported the Assembly Education Committee approved measures including A-3424 (school counselor certification with an emphasis on mental health and trauma-informed practice), A-3865 (reintroducing cursive handwriting instruction for grades three through five) and A-3984 (the Jersey Strong Public Service Scholarship Program to address workforce shortages). She noted those measures will proceed to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, with hearings scheduled March 26 at NJIT and virtually on April 10.
Eisner also summarized the amended cell phone and social media guidance bill (A-4882/S-3695), which the minutes say would direct the commissioner of education to develop age-appropriate guidelines and require local boards to adopt policies consistent with those guidelines. The amended language replaces a district-mandated model policy with guidance and preserves local flexibility, per the minutes.
Other bills Eisner flagged included proposals on extending permissible school-district lease terms (A-5038), a school supervisor mentorship pilot (A-5075), a mercury-containing floor removal requirement (A-3019) and a regional food procurement preference (A-5093). She also noted a Home Instruction Documentation change (A-3340) to expand professionals who can document home instruction eligibility.
Eisner’s summary was informational; the board did not take formal action on the state bills at this meeting.
