Chiaravalloti Bill to Postpone NJQSAC Review for Certain School Districts Due to COVID-19 Clears Assembly Panel

(TRENTON) – Each school district in the state is required periodically to undergo a comprehensive review by the New Jersey Department of Education under the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum. Districts are reviewed on a staggered schedule; however, that schedule has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aiming to ensure school districts and the Department of Education are able to focus their time and resources on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday advanced a bill (A-4006) to postpone NJQSAC reviews scheduled for the 2019-2020 school year that were not completed because of COVID-19 school closures, or those scheduled for the 2020-2021 school year. These reviews will be rescheduled for the 2021-2022 school year.

The measure’s sponsor, Assemblyman Nicholas Chiaravalloti (D-Hudson), released the following statement:

“We are proud in New Jersey to be counted among the best schools in the nation. We regularly evaluate our schools to ensure they are meeting rigorous standards for delivering high quality education, and keep track of the progress in our districts. The COVID-19 pandemic has understandably complicated this process.

“Instead of filling out NJQSAC paperwork, we’d rather school districts focus on combating the challenges brought on by the pandemic, from conducting remote instruction to delivering food to students who normally receive free or reduced price school meals. The needs of our students should always come first.”