N.J. lawmakers advance bill banning special education placement bonuses for superintendents
Lawmakers worried that public school superintendents could be swayed by financial gain approved legislation Monday to ban certain bonuses.
The bill would bar school districts from paying bonuses to superintendents who keep special education students in their local program rather then sending them to an out-of-district program – which could be more expensive, but may better suit the student.
“By prohibiting bonuses for special education placements, we will ensure that practitioners are not tempted to make decisions strictly for monetary gain,” said Sen. Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex. “The goal of any school district is to find the best programming and supports for a child, whether it is in-district or out-of-district.”
The legislation comes after the Asbury Park Press reported some school districts offer such bonuses for their superintendents. In Freehold Regional High School District, the paper found a superintendent received a $5,910 bonus for reducing the number of students sent to out-of-district special education programs.
“Children with learning disabilities need to be enrolled in the programs that best meet their educational needs. Any contractual agreement that creates an incentive to place a child in a particular program, whether it is in-district or otherwise, is cause for concern,” Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said.
The measure passed unanimously in the Senate Education Committee, and it now heads to the full Senate. An Assembly version passed that chamber unanimously in June. (Linhorst/The Record)
Touring those North Media sites can give this local Blog a greater expansion of information for its readers. This was a good one,
Thanks…. please do more.
Better yet, just read the North Jersey Media website directly…..not nearly as much political spin.