Chris Christie Signs 6 Education Bills Into Law, Vetoes Cops-In-Schools Plan

Gov. Chris Christie signed six education reform bills into law Tuesday — the first day of school for many — while vetoing a cops-in-school initiative.

Christie visited Grover Cleveland Middle School in Caldwell to act upon seven bills focused on improving education in the state.

The bills he signed include measures to enhance school security and early intervention in situations in which students exhibit behavioral or learning problems. The bills also ensure that substance abuse instruction for students encompasses the latest research and best practices, according to the governor's office.

Christie has also signed two bills focused on higher education, to increase transparency and enable public colleges and universities to save money by engaging in cooperative purchasing agreements.

“Over the last six years, my administration has prided itself on engaging in education reform to make sure our schools are safer, more effective, and facilitating the success of our students,” said Christie in a release. “Providing and ensuring a high quality education for every student in every corner of this state is a firm commitment of mine and it is why I continue to support and bolster education in the Garden State.”

Christie said he supported the purpose of a bill that would establish a special category for police officers who would patrol public and nonpublic schools and college. But he said he wants them to complete a school resource officer training program first.

"The safety of our children in schools is of paramount concern, especially in the wake of senseless violent attacks in the very places that our children should feel safest," he said in his veto.

Specifically, the governor took the following action on the following pending legislation:

BILL SIGNINGS:

S-2081/A-3790 (Ruiz, Turner/Vainieri Huttle, Wimberly) - Limits expulsions and suspensions for students in preschool through grade 2 with certain exceptions; requires early detection and prevention programs for behavioral issues in preschool through grade 2

A-2292/S-372 (Vainieri Huttle, Benson, McKnight, Gusciora, Lampitt, Wimberly/Codey, Allen) - Requires review of Core Curriculum Content Standards to ensure guidance for substance abuse instruction provided to public school students incorporates most recent evidence-based standards and practices

A-2563/S-1753 (Jasey, Singleton, Wimberly, Danielsen/Turner) - Directs institutions of higher education and proprietary degree-granting institutions to provide Higher Education Student Assistance Authority with graduation and transfer rates of State tuition aid grant recipients

A-2566/S-496 (Jasey, Wimberly/Ruiz, Turner) - Establishes Response to Intervention initiative in DOE to support and encourage school districts in implementation of Response to Intervention framework

A-2689/S-754 (Schaer, Prieto, Lagana, Lampitt, Vainieri Huttle, Eustace, S. Kean, Auth, Quijano, Wimberly/Beach, Gordon) - "Secure Schools for All Children Act"; establishes State aid program for security services, equipment, or technology to ensure safe and secure school environment for nonpublic school students

A-3405/S-1822 (Coughlin, Schaer, Jasey, Benson/Sarlo, Cunningham) - Permits certain public institutions of higher education to make purchases and contract for services as participating contracting units in cooperative pricing systems and through use of nationally-recognized and accepted cooperative purchasing agreements

BILL VETOED:

S-86/A-3629 (A.R. Bucco, Sweeney/A.M. Bucco, Rible, Singleton, Caride, Moriarty, Schepisi, Wimberly) – CONDITIONAL - Establishes Class Three special law enforcement officers to provide security in public and nonpublic schools and county colleges

Patch file photo