COVID-19: AN UPDATE FROM EDUCATION LAW CENTER

During the current coronavirus pandemic, New Jerseyans’ main focus must be on health and safety. Education Law Center is also dedicated to that principle, and our thoughts are with our fellow citizens.

As you know, all New Jersey schools will be closed as of Wednesday, March 18. For information about what this means for students and families, visit this NJ Department of Education web page.

While schools are closed, home instruction days will be counted towards the required 180-day school year. School districts are expected to provide instruction to all students, including those with disabilities and English language learners, through home or online instruction.

Additionally, all students who receive free breakfast and lunch at school will continue to have access to grab-and-go meals. Check your school district’s website for more information. Visit the NJ School Directory on the NJ Department of Education website to find out how to reach your district.

Some questions remain unanswered for now. The U.S. Department of Education has announced that it will consider waiving standardized testing requirements for states. As of this writing, the NJ Department of Education has not asked for a waiver for 2019 assessments that would ordinarily be administered this spring, but such a request is under consideration.

The NJ Legislature is meeting on a revised schedule with many committee hearings canceled, including the Assembly and Senate Education Committees. The two remaining public hearings before the Assembly Budget Committee on the FY21 State Budget have been canceled, but individuals and organizations can still submit testimony by email to LBFO@njleg.org or by mail to Assembly Budget Committee, C/O Legislative Budget and Finance Office, Office of Legislative Services, P.O. Box 068, Trenton, NJ  08625-0068.

For the time being, ELC’s Newark office is closed, and our staff members are working remotely. If you have a question or concern, you can reach the appropriate staff person via email. Please visit this web page to access staff email addresses.

Please also continue to check our social media pages and website for updates. You can visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

Education Law Center staff and trustees will continue our advocacy, research and legal work on behalf of public school children in New Jersey and across the nation, for now remotely but as actively as ever.

Press Contact:

Sharon Krengel
Policy and Outreach Director
skrengel@edlawcenter.org
973-624-1815, x 24

Press Contact:
Sharon Krengel
Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Communications
skrengel@edlawcenter.org
973-624-1815, x240