Call to Action: Snow Day Bill

Jersey 1st Continues to Lead Efforts

Before there was NJ Fresh Faced Schools, before Nik & I were plotting to restore the education system of out State, Jersey 1st, uniting parents, policy advocates, lawyers, experienced politicians and communications specialists, all the with goal of improving our State, and saving students in failing Covid-drive. remote school despair. Thanks to Jersey 1st: Open Our Schools!, I found my tribe in early February 2021, and felt buoyed by the support and strategic advice of their experienced leadership. I owe much of my early courage to the parents of Jersey 1st.

The group continues to monitor policy and legislative proposals that would be harmful for the effort to return the administration of education to better-than pre-pandemic status.

The organization is actively working to advocate against Senate Bill 464, dubbed the “Snow Day Bill”

From their team:

“We believe that it is beneficial for parents to be informed as the bill is preparing to be voted on in the General Assembly.

Bill S464 was introduced in the Senate Education Committee on January 11, 2022 and passed the Senate unanimously (39-0) on March 3, and is an expansion on P.L. 2020, Chapter 27. P.L. 2020, Chapter 27 allows for schools to conduct remote learning if schools are required to be closed for three or more consecutive days as a result of a public health emergency or public state of emergency. The law also allows for the remote learning days to be counted towards the 180 day requirement. 

Jersey First has been tracking bill S464 as it has progressed from the Senate to the House because it opposes much of the language that has been included in the bill, such as the fact that schools can go remote if they are expected to be closed for one or more day for “any other circumstance that requires the closure of the schools of the district…”. The bill also states that schools are only permitted to conduct remote learning if they submit a written statement attesting that all students in the district have access to a computer and the internet. This clause is problematic because it is unlikely that all students in any district will have this access, as well as the method through which special education IEPs will be taught remotely.

As parents who desire to have the best decisions made in regards to their children’s education, we ask you to join us in opposing this bill when it is brought to a hearing in the Education Committee in the General Assembly. Our ask of you is to have five people send the following letter to the Education Committee members listed below. 

• Pamela R. Lampitt, AswLampitt@njleg.org

• Mila M. Jasey, AswJasey@njleg.org

• Ralph R. Caputo, AsmCaputo@njleg.org

• Sadaf F. Jaffer, AswJaffer@njleg.org

• Michele Matsikoudis, AswMatsikoudis@njleg.org

• Erik K. Simonsen, AsmSimonsen@njleg.org

• Brandon E. Umba, AsmUmba

(Insert Date)

Dear Assemblyman/Assemblywoman,

I am writing to express my strong concerns regarding certain aspects of S464. We understand that S464 will be under consideration by the Education Committee in the near future. My gravest concern is the ambiguous language used in the legislation with regards to the circumstances in which schools may implement remote instruction. The vagueness of the bill has the potential to be misconstrued or exploited for the benefit of the school district at the expense of the students.  The bill specifically states that the superintendent can implement virtual learning for  “any other circumstance that requires the closure of schools or districts''. It is my opinion that this bill is misusing the tool of virtual learning in a manner which harms my child and the rest of my family.

My family is not capable of consistently adhering to the rigors of ensuring my child is learning in a virtual setting, a possibility which would become all too common under this legislation. Remote learning can never be a proper substitute for in-person learning, and this bill seems to suggest the opposite. All children ought to be guaranteed the right to a proper education, and the implementation of virtual learning at a whim is blatantly disregarding that right.

It is my sincere hope that you will listen to the grave concerns of myself, as well as the parents of countless other children, and strike down this bill.

Signed, 

_________________________

Town_______________________

Thank you to the team at Jersey 1st for continuing to light the way!

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