New Jersey Tiered System of Supports (NJTSS) is an evidence-based framework for implementing academic and behavioral supports and interventions to improve achievement for all students. A federal IDEA Grant is funding the NJDOE partnership with Rutgers, the State Parents Advocacy Network, NJPSA and the Dumont School District. NJTSS is based on the core components of the three-tier prevention logic of Response to Intervention (RTI). David Cittadino, Chief Education Officer, Old Bridge Township Public Schools informed the State Board of the RTI framework utilized within the Old Bridge Township District. 

New Jersey's 2015 Superintendent of the Year Dr. Timothy Purnell, Chief Education Officer, Somerville School District, and the current National Superintendent of the Year for the National Association of School Superintendents, shared Highlights from the Ville with the State Board. Later in the agenda, Dr. Purnell was one of three reappointments to the State Board of Examiners. His term will expire on September 14, 2018.

New approved nominees and their respective appointments are: 

Joshua Koen, Chief Innovation Officer
Anthony Fitzpatrick,  Director, Office of School Innovation
Amanda Schultz, Director, Office of Budget
Joseph Vitelli, Director, Office of Administration

The State Board also approved a title change for Karin Garver. She is now the Deputy Chief Academic Officer. 

Student Transportation
The amendments pertaining to school buses at N.J.A.C. 6A:27, student transportation, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:39-21 and N.J.S.A. 18A:4-15 are slated for publication in the NJ Register.   

Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 SEC. 8532, as reauthorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, the Unsafe School Choice Option (USCO) requires that each state receiving funds under the ESEA establish and implement a statewide policy requiring that students attending a persistently dangerous public elementary or secondary school (Provision I), or students who become victims of a violent criminal offense (Provision II) while in or on the grounds of a public school that they attend be allowed to attend a safe public school.

NJDOE Division of Executive Services/Chief of Staff/Assistant Commissioner William Haldeman and NJDOE Chief Financial Officer Kevin Dehmer provided an overview to the State Board.

Subchapters 16 through 22 provide for fiscal accountability, financial accounting and recordkeeping, calculation of tuition for public schools and private schools for students with disabilities (PSSDs), residency determination, and the financial operations of charter schools.

Current Subchapters 16 through 22 previously were located in N.J.A.C. 6A:23, Finance and Business Services, until November 18, 2009, when the State Board voted to recodify the chapter as N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-16 through 22. Shortly before the recodification, the Commissioner adopted the first two phases of its fiscal accountability regulations as N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-1 through 15. The combination of all 22 subchapters compiled under one chapter all regulations concerning the fiscal operations of school districts, charter schools, and PSSDs.

Subchapters 16 through 22 are proposed for readoption as State Board of Education rules consistent with the original authority that established the regulations.

N.J.A.C. 6A:3, Controversies and Disputes
N.J.A.C. 6A:9, Professional Standards - Recommendations of the State Professional Learning Committee to the Commissioner to adopt the 2015 Professional Standards for Educational Leaders into State regulations January 29, 2016

N.J.A.C. 6A:11, Charter Schools
N.J.A.C. 6A:32, School District Operations

This proposal further advances the goals of deregulation established in the September 2012 Education Transformation Task Force (ETTF) report, including the removal of duplicative regulations that distract school administrators and educators from the primary responsibility of student learning.

This proposal focuses on regulatory provisions that either restate rules that are stated elsewhere in Title 6A of Administrative Code or are outdated and no longer applicable to any regulated party. Removing the unnecessary provisions will streamline the Administrative Code and make it easier for school districts to review the regulatory requirements that are pertinent to teaching and learning.