BILL NUMBER: S6760
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to establish the differentiated learning environment task force;
and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this legislation is to study the way that teaching
colleges and universities prepare prospective teachers to work in urban
settings and to offer differentiated classrooms. In particular, this
legislation will look into the creation of a dual certification process
in special education and language-based learning differences as well as
a way to fight the growing literacy crisis.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes the differentiated learning environment task
force.
Section 2 defines "differentiated learning environment" and "language-
based learning differences."
Section 3 provides how members of the task force shall be appointed.
Section 4 provides that the commissioner of the Department of Education
or their designee shall chair the task force. Members of the task force
shall not receive compensation for their service on the task force but
shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in the perform-
ance of their duties in the work of the task force.
Section 5 provides that appointments shall be made within 60 days of the
effective date and that any vacancies shall be filled in the same manner
provided for in the initial appointment.
Section 6 provides that the task force may consult with any organiza-
tion, government entity, or person in developing the report.
Section 7 provides that the task force shall submit its report, on or
before 1 year after the effective date, to the governor, the temporary
president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the minority
leaders of the senate and assembly. The report shall contain, among
other things, a dual certification process for teachers to be certified
in both special education and language-based learning differences; and a
comprehensive professional development training program for persons who
are teachers and those that are studying to become teachers to learn the
basics of differentiated learning environments.
Section 8 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The state's education system must constantly learn and adapt to greater
understandings of how students can succeed in differentiated learning
environments and how to take language-based learning differences fully
into consideration in each learning environment.
This bill will study the way teaching colleges and universities prepare
prospective teachers to work in urban schools with a variety of student
skills and learning styles. The study will be led by the Commissioner of
Education and a highly qualified task force. Our goal for the study is
to examine the benefits of a dual certification process in special
education and language-based learning differences to improve student
performance and fight our ongoing problems to strengthen literacy
skills.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024:5.4966- Referred to Higher Education/A.1572- Referred to
Education
2021-2022:5.2020-Referred to Higher Education/A.2055 -Referred to Educa-
tion
2019-2020:5.7154-Referred to Higher Education/A.10946- Referred to
Education
 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire 24 months after
it shall have become a law when upon such date the provisions of this
act shall be deemed repealed.