A Legislative Agenda: Education Committee

A Legislative Agenda: Presented by the Educational Committee

6th District's Current Educational State

Chaired by Vinuthna Yerra

Presented by Vinuthna Yerra and Aayush Gupta

07/27/24

Index

Lack of Teachers

1.

7.

Standarized Testing

2.

Diversifying Electives

8.

Conclusion

3.

Heightened Security

4.

Establishing STEM Programs

5.

Application of ABA Therapy

6.

Transportation

1. Lack of Teacher Preparation Completors

Incentives and Outreach

A Growing Negative

• Furthermore, with inflation on the rise, and a dip in yearly salaries for teachers, the position doesn't seem viable for rising high schoolers or college graduates. Additonally, other fields of study provide increasingly better incentives such as healthcare, not to mention the 19.2% pay gap between public school teachers and graduates in other fields of studies. However, increasing teacher salaries and providing better and greater benefits can restore interest in teacher application. Finally, outreach programs in high schools can get students more interested in the position itself.

• A trend seen throughout New Jersey is the lack of Teacher Preparation Completion, an essential certificate needed to achieve a teaching position within the state. With the number of completers going down from the highest of 10,000 in the 2007-2008 educational school year to 4000 in the 2019-2020 school year, this poses a grave problem for the educational system's future, leaving more students with fewer certified teachers. This poses a certain question, will the state have enough teachers for students in the future?

+ info

+ info

2. Diversification of Electives in Middle Schools's

A Better Generation

Lack of Diversification

• To provide students with effective educations that prepare them for the real world, this council proposes that public middle schools need more elective courses that are diversified in fields of work. Middle school is the perfect time to explore work fields and have an idea of a career so students can focus on that field and develop their skills in it. Most electives concerning other careers don’t come until high school, which leaves time wasted for students to prepare themselves for their higher education and careers. Adding electives such as business and economics or filmmaking would be beneficial to students who want to pursue higher education and careers in those fields.

• Done by contacting and talking to school administration as well as the district administration, electives can be added and diversified within middle schools to give students the greater opportunity of finding other career paths in their life that don't just reside in music and arts, engineering, or computer science. Therefore, the diversification of electives leads to a more diversified future workforce making not only the workforce themselves more talented but making the economy more stable and less prone to economic collapses.

3. Heightened Security Measures

Preventive Measures

Terrifying Numbers

• The implementation of a school-accessible criminal database stands as a pivotal measure in mitigating intrusions on public school grounds. When an individual enters school premises during operational hours, they typically are required to present identification. That identification, whether in the form of a driver’s license, passport, residential permit, or government-issued identification, can be cross-referenced with a comprehensive database accessible to school authorities. Furthermore, the assignment of School Resource Officers (SROs) by local police departments to each school within their jurisdiction proves to be essential. Finally, drawing from an example set by the New Jersey Department of Education, which mandates the monthly conduction of safety drills in public schools, regular drills not only ensure the readiness of students but also provide staff members the assurance of being adequately trained and informed.

• The 2022 educational year bore witness to a staggering reality: 46 school shootings, a number surpassing any year since 1999. This statistic alone paints a harrowing picture, but when coupled with the 557% increase in gun violence on public school grounds, the severity of the situation becomes increasingly and painfully clear. Those who weren’t dead or wounded experience the daily trauma of walking into those once lively, productive, and hopeful classrooms. The tragic incident at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, resulting in the loss of 21 lives, including 19 children as young as nine, serves as a reminder of the bright futures extinguished by such violence. Over the past 25 years since 1999, a staggering toll of 203 students and educators have perished, while 453 others have suffered injuries.

+ info

+ info

4. Establishing STEM Programs

STEM'S Future

STEM Programs

• Furthermore, STEM, as a career path can be seen as an increasing trend in the workforce. With more jobs being offered and taken up related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the workforce sees a bright future in STEM jobs. Moreover, most Americans believing that STEM programs should be emphasized and applied in schools. Finally, it is well known and seen through statistics that the median salary of an individual working in a STEM-based job is much higher than the salary of an individual working in a non-STEM-based job. Therefore, not only do STEM programs empower the already increased interest in the field but also help strengthen the overall future economy and lift many out of poverty.

• Not only does STEM education equip students with the necessary skills for the future workforce, but it also fosters critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and innovation. However, despite its significance, there are disparities in STEM education across New Jersey that demand attention. The STEM program allows for students to thrive in specilized classes which prepares them for higher education and challenges them by being surrounded by students in their level of capabilities. With increased benefits, every school should invest in creating a STEM program. Through thorough dispersion of funds from the government, schools will be able to spend money on the most beneficial and relevant programs.

+ info

+ info

5. Establishing Therpy in schools

Expansion of ABA

School Therapy

• Despite the efforts of spreading this type of therapy, individuals that live with autism often struggle with the staggering policies in different states and schools. Some educaiton centers do not offer the ABA all together which limits chances of recovering to a regular lifestyle. Every school in the United States should mandate to and gradually include ABA therapy as this program gives 5 million of the autistic indivudals a chance at learning and being independent.

• ABA therapy is a scientific approach to treating children on the autism spectrum starting at the age of 18 months. Treatment is completed by trained health care professionals, known as registered behavior technicians who work with children directly oftentimes through one-on-one sessions. This is the most effective treatment for autism, as Total Care therapy reports that 90 percent of patients with Autism had behavioral improvements after ABA therapy.

+ info

+ info

6. Transportation

Solution

Issue with busing

• Another recommendation provided by this council is the implementation of a comprehensive school bus tracking system. It is our belief that this would empower both schools and families with the information and tools to ensure students get to their bus stops on time and avoid missed buses. This would additionally contribute to the enhancement of reliability and safety of the school transportation system.

• School transportation systems are often highly unreliable, leading to frequent delays and disruptions for students and their families. Buses may run late due to various factors, including traffic congestion, mechanical issues, and scheduling inefficiencies. These delays can cause students to miss valuable class time and create additional stress for parents who need to adjust their schedules. Especially for younger children, families may worry due to the delays.

+ info

+ info

7. Myth of Standarized Testing

Effect

Standardized Test Issues

• Standardized testing often fails to accurately measure a student's true abilities and potential, leading to a range of negative effects. These tests typically emphasize complete memorization and test-taking skills over deeper understanding and critical thinking. As a result, students who may excel in creative or practical applications of knowledge can find themselves unfairly disadvantaged. So, tests should be changed to benefit all students rather than just value students that have exceptional memerization skills.

• Additionally, it is this council’s belief that school-wide standardized testing, specifically in New Jersey schools, should not be used to evaluate student ability, as it increases student workload and does not accurately measure a student’s learning capabilities. Instead of standardized tests this council recommends a combination of social and emotional skill surveys and long-term tracking of a student’s progress would be a more effective approach.

+ info

+ info

Conclusions

Education Committee

This legislative agenda put forth by the Education Committee of the Youth Advisory Council to Congressman Frank Pallone represents a comprehensive analysis aimed at advancing our education system. By addressing the issue of teacher shortages, minimum elective options, , STEM programs, schools can contribute to the increased success of students across the country. Through collaborative efforts and strategic solution implementation, the education committee strives to support students through their education journey and prepare them for future challenges. This agenda reflects our dedication to educational excellence and our committee’s commitment to shaping the most fundamental phases in student life.

'Your content is liked, but it engages much more if it is interactive'

Conclusions

Thank you for your time!

'Your content is liked, but it engages much more if it is interactive'

Committee Members: Aashna Thakar, Nishi Agarwal, Ritam Chaudhuri, Deveshi Bhardwaj, Ishaan Kunwar, Mahee Patel, Sarah Algier, V. Prabhanjan Immareddy, Shruthi Shivakumar, Lilly Kupersmit