he thanked Tuesday in the State of the State address, which mentioned education mostly in passing. When asked why the commissioner was absent, the department press office did not immediately respond.Serving in her place, Assistant Commissioner Kathleen Ehling told the board that out of a hoped-for 5,000 volunteers, only 330 individuals and organizations had applied to work with NJPSS as tutors, student success coaches, and post-secondary school advisors.
The current policy allows districts to hold separate human sexuality classes “for male and female students” so long as students receive the same lessons. This could put trans or nonbinary students in the potential position of outing themselves. The proposed revision would allow districts to separate classes “based on gender identity.”
“As a public policy-setting body, we need to recognize that it’s an extraordinarily private conversation for moms, dads, parents, and guardians across New Jersey and truly around the world,” Board Member Joseph Ricca said. “It’s not our business to ask. When a child comes to school, it is a self-selected process around gender, and that’s the end of the conversation.”