Panel backs adding bullying awareness to state learning standards, leaves curriculum details to State Board

S4457 would require the State Board of Education to include bullying awareness and prevention in the New Jersey student learning standards. Witnesses from the principals' association and the school boards' association said they supported the objective but cautioned against pinning curriculum details in statute.

"When we add individual curriculum requirements through statute, even though many of them are very important and laudable topics, when we do it through statute individually, over time they accumulate," Jenny Lamon of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association told the committee. Lamon said leaving curriculum decisions to the State Board's standards review process preserves a cohesive approach and prevents standards from becoming overly prescribed.

Committee members recorded a unanimous vote to release the proposed committee substitute.