New Jersey A 1958: Requires anti-bullying policy of public schools to include provision requiring principal to make preliminary determination and meet with parents of students involved in alleged bullying incident for that determination; extends time for investigating incid

Bill Text

A1958 

ASSEMBLY, No. 1958 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Assemblyman MICHAEL VENEZIA

District 34 (Essex)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires teachers to biennially complete two hours of 
professional development related to cultural competence.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning professional development for public school 
teachers and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.� 

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� The State Board of 
Education shall, as part of the professional development requirement 
established by the State board for public school teachers, require each teacher 
to complete two hours of instruction in cultural competency in each two-year 
period.� This instruction shall assist a teacher to successfully teach students 
from cultures which are different than the teacher�s own culture.� The 
instruction shall include, but shall not be limited to, a discussion of: 
personal and interpersonal awareness and sensitivities; acts of microaggression 
in the classroom; and implicit bias.� 

���� 2.��� This act shall take 
effect immediately.� 

STATEMENT

���� State Board of Education 
regulations at N.J.A.C.6A:9-15.4 require all active teachers in a school 
district to complete a minimum of 20 hours of approved professional development 
each year.� This bill requires the board, as part of the professional development 
requirement, to require each public school teacher to complete two hours of 
instruction in cultural competency in each two-year period.� The instruction 
must include, but need not be limited to, a discussion of: personal and 
interpersonal awareness and sensitivities; acts of microaggression in the 
classroom; and implicit bias.