N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:16-9.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 12, June 17, 2024

Section 6A:16-9.2 - Program criteria

(a) Each alternative education program, pursuant to 6A:16-1.3, shall fulfill the following program criteria for both high school and middle school programs, unless otherwise noted:

1. A maximum student-teacher ratio of 12:1 for high school programs shall be maintained;

2. A maximum student-teacher ratio of 10:1 for middle school programs shall be maintained;

3. An Individualized Program Plan (IPP) shall be developed for each general education student enrolled in the program.

i. The IPP shall be developed by the school district in which the student is enrolled, in consultation with the student's parent and the receiving school district, pursuant to 6A:16-9.1(a), or other agency, pursuant to 6A:16-9.1(b), as appropriate.

ii. The IPP shall be developed by a multidisciplinary team of professionals with knowledge of the student's educational, behavioral, emotional, social and health needs.

iii. The IPP shall identify the appropriate instructional and support services for addressing the student's identified needs.

iv. The IPP shall be developed in accordance with the format prescribed by the Commissioner of Education and implemented within 30 calendar days of the student's placement in the alternative education program.

(1) The IPP may, but need not, be developed prior to the student's placement.

v. A multidisciplinary team shall review and, as appropriate, revise the IPP prior to the completion of the student's anticipated enrollment in the alternative education program or prior to the end of the school year, whichever occurs first.

(1) The multidisciplinary team shall review and revise the IPP, as needed, at any time during the student's enrollment in the alternative education program.

(2) The multidisciplinary team that reviews the IPP shall include staff from the sending school and the alternative education program who have knowledge of the student's educational, behavioral, emotional, social and health needs.

(3) The student's parent shall be advised of revisions to the IPP.

4. For a student with a disability, the alternative education program shall be consistent with the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:14, Special Education.

5. Individualized instruction to students shall address the New Jersey Student Learning Standards, pursuant to 6A:8-3.1;

6. Instructional staff shall be appropriately certified, pursuant to 6A:9-3.3;

7. Compliance with attendance policies, pursuant to 6A:16-7.8 and 6A:32-8.3, shall be required;

8. Academic instruction sufficient to fulfill graduation requirements, pursuant to 6A:8-5.1, shall be provided to high school students;

9. Comprehensive support services and programs shall address each student's health, social and emotional development and behavior;

10. Case management services including, but not limited to, monitoring and evaluating student progress and coordinating instructional and support services, pursuant to (a)5, 8, and 9 above, shall be provided;

11. Services to facilitate the transition of students returning to the general or special education program shall be provided; and

12. A minimum student enrollment period of not less than two complete marking periods shall be required.

i. If the student is enrolled with less than two complete marking periods remaining prior to the end of the school year, the decision regarding continued placement in the alternative education program shall be made in accordance with 6A:16-9.3(a).

ii. If the student is removed from the general education program and placed in an alternative education program as a result of a firearm or assault with a weapon offense, the chief school administrator may modify the term of removal or placement on a case-by-case basis, pursuant to 6A:16-5.5(b)1 and 5.6(b)1.

iii. For the student with a disability, the enrollment period shall be determined by appropriate school personnel in accordance with the provisions of N.J.A.C. 6A:14, Special Education, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:16-9.2

Administrative Change, 48 N.J.R. 1802(a).