Establishes Safe Remote Learning Program in DOE to support provision of remote instruction facilities by public schools.

A4287

ASSEMBLY, No. 4287

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes Safe Remote Learning Program in DOE to
support provision of remote instruction facilities by public schools.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
establishing a Safe Remote Learning Program in the
Department of Education to support the provision of remote instruction
facilities by public schools.

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

���� �1.�� a.� There is established
in the Department of Education the Safe Remote Learning Program to support the
provision of remote instruction facilities by school districts, charter
schools, and renaissance schools that implement a partial or full-time program
of virtual or remote instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

���� �b.�� The department shall
establish guidelines concerning the establishment and maintenance of remote
instruction facilities.� In addition to any other requirements set forth by the
department, the guidelines shall require each remote instruction facility to be:

���� (1)�� used for the delivery of
remote instruction to students in accordance with health and safety standards
set forth by the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department
of Health;

���� (2)�� equipped with such
online instruction equipment, including connected devices and mobile broadband
Internet access service, as is necessary for every student who attends the
facility to participate in remote instruction activities; and

���� (3)�� staffed by appropriately
qualified persons during all hours of operation.

���� �c.��� When a school district,
charter school, or renaissance school implements a partial or full-time program
of virtual or remote instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the
school may establish one or more remote instruction facilities, without prior
approval from the department, provided that the facility complies with the
guidelines established by the department pursuant to subsection b. of this
section.� The facilities may be established by repurposing space within an
existing school facility or acquiring space within a facility owned by a
non-profit organization or an institution of higher education.

���� �d.�� (1)� Within the limits
of available space, a school district, charter school, or renaissance school
that establishes a remote instruction facility shall, upon written request from
the parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of a student, permit
the student to participate in remote instruction activities at the facility.

���� (2)�� If a student is enrolled
in a school district, charter school, or renaissance school that has not
established a remote instruction facility, or if a student is unable to attend
a remote instruction facility due to insufficient space, the student shall be
eligible to participate in remote instruction activities at any nearby remote
instruction facility.�

���� (3)�� If the school district,
charter school, or renaissance school lacks sufficient space to allow all
students to participate in remote instruction activities at a remote
instruction facility, the school shall give preference to:

���� (a)�� students who are
eligible for free or reduced price meals under the National School Lunch
Program or the federal School Breakfast Program; and

���� (b)�� students whose parent,
guardian, or other person having legal custody is considered an essential
worker by the department, which workers shall include, but not be limited to,
teachers, school administrators, and other school personnel.

���� �e.��� The department, in
consultation with the Department of Children and Families, shall establish
eligibility criteria for persons who may staff remote instruction facilities,
except that a student who is enrolled in an educator preparation program at a
public institution of higher education in the State shall be eligible to staff
a remote instruction facility and shall receive credit for such service toward
the educator preparation program.

���� �f.��� As used in this
section:

���� �Connected device� means a
laptop computer, tablet computer, or similar device that is capable of
connecting to broadband Internet access service, either by receiving such
service directly or through the use of Wi-Fi.

���� �Mobile broadband Internet
access service� means a mass-market retail service by wire or radio that
provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or
substantially all Internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are
incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service, but
excluding dial-up Internet access service.

���� �Online instruction equipment�
means the equipment necessary for a student to participate in remote
instruction activities, and includes a connected device and mobile broadband
Internet access service.

���� 2.��� a.� If a school
district, charter school, or renaissance school establishes one or more remote
instruction facilities, the Department of Education shall, from the monies made
available pursuant to subsection b. of this section, reimburse the school district,
charter school, or renaissance school for the full costs of establishing and
maintaining each facility.

���� b.��� (1)� To the extent
permitted by federal law, the department shall provide such funding as is
necessary, from the monies allocated to the State under the federal
�Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,� Pub.L. 116-136,
or any other financial assistance provided by the federal government to address
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to support the reimbursements required
under subsection a. of this section.�

���� (2)�� If insufficient federal
funding is made available pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, the
State shall appropriate such additional amounts as are necessary to support the
reimbursements required under subsection a. of this section, subject to the
approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the
Department of the Treasury.

���� 3.��� Notwithstanding any
provision of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), or any other law to the
contrary, the Commissioner of Education may adopt, immediately upon filing with
the Office of Administrative Law and no later than the 90th day after the effective
date of this act, such rules and regulations as the commissioner deems
necessary to implement the provisions of this act, which regulations shall be
effective for a period not to exceed 12 months.� The regulations shall
thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the commissioner in accordance
with the provisions of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the Safe
Remote Learning Program in the Department of Education to support the provision
of remote instruction facilities by school districts, charter schools, and
renaissance schools that implement a partial or full-time program of virtual or
remote instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

���� Under the program, the
department would be required to establish guidelines concerning the
establishment and maintenance of remote instruction facilities.� At a minimum,
these guidelines would require each facility to be: (1) used for the delivery
of remote instruction to students in accordance with health and safety
standards set forth by the department, in consultation with the Department of
Health; (2) equipped with such online instruction equipment as is necessary for
every student who attends the facility to participate in remote instruction
activities; and (3) staffed by appropriately qualified persons during all hours
of operation.

���� When a school district,
charter school, or renaissance school implements a partial or full-time program
of virtual or remote instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the
school may establish one or more remote instruction facilities, without prior approval
from the department, provided that the facility complies with the department�s
guidelines.� Under the bill, these facilities could be established by
repurposing space within an existing school facility or acquiring space within
a facility owned by a non-profit organization or an institution of higher
education.

���� Within the limits of available
space, a school district, charter school, or renaissance school that
establishes a remote instruction facility would be required, upon written
request from the parent, guardian, or other person having legal custody of a
student, to permit the student to participate in remote instruction activities
at the facility.� The bill also provides that if a student is enrolled in a
school district, charter school, or renaissance school that has not established
a remote instruction facility, or if a student is unable to attend a remote
instruction facility due to insufficient space, then the student may attend any
nearby remote instruction facility.

���� However, if the school
district, charter school, or renaissance school lacks sufficient space to allow
all students to attend a remote instruction facility, the school would be
required to give preference to: (1) students who are eligible for free or reduced
price meals under the National School Lunch Program or the federal School
Breakfast Program; and (2) students whose parent, guardian, or other person
having legal custody is considered an essential worker by the department.

���� The department, in
consultation with the Department of Children and Families, would also be
required to establish eligibility criteria for persons who may staff remote
instruction facilities.� However, the bill provides that a student who is
enrolled in an educator preparation program at a public institution of higher
education in the State would be eligible to staff a remote instruction facility
and receive credit for such service toward the educator preparation program.

���� The bill also requires the
State to reimburse school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools
for the full costs incurred in establishing and maintaining remote instruction
facilities.� To the extent permitted by federal law, the department would be
required to reimburse these costs from the monies allocated to the State under
the federal �Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act� or any
other financial assistance provided by the federal government to address the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.� However, if insufficient federal funding is
available to defray these costs, the State would be required to appropriate
such additional amounts as are necessary to reimburse each school, subject to
the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the
Department of the Treasury.