NJ Inclusive Education

New Jersey has a long-standing history in its commitment to an inclusive curriculum within its public schools. Beyond HSD’s own commitment to developing an inclusive curriculum, the following mandates are in place through the state legislature and the NJDOE:

• Instruction on Holocaust & Genocides (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-28)
  In 1994, the legislature voted unanimously in favor of an act requiring education on the Holocaust and genocide in elementary and secondary education, and it was subsequently signed into law by Governor Whitman. The law indicates that issues of bias, prejudice, and bigotry, including bullying, shall be included as part of the teaching of the Holocaust and genocide for all children from K-12th grade. Because this is a law and in statute, any changes in standards would not impact the requirement of education on this topic in all New Jersey public schools.

  1. Every board of education shall include instruction on the Holocaust and genocides in an appropriate place in the curriculum of all elementary and secondary school pupils.

  2. The instruction shall enable pupils to identify and analyze applicable theories concerning human nature and behavior, to understand that genocide is a consequence of prejudice and discrimination, and to understand that issues of moral dilemma and conscience have a profound impact on life. The instruction shall further emphasize the personal responsibility that each citizen bears to fight racism and hatred whenever and wherever it happens.

• Infusion of African American Accomplishments (Section 18A:35-4.43)
  The Amistad Bill, which became law in 2002, calls on New Jersey schools to incorporate African American history into their social studies curriculum. This legislation also created the Amistad Commission, a 23-member body charged with ensuring that African American history, contributions, and experiences are adequately taught in the state’s classrooms.

  1. To infuse the history of Africans and African Americans into the social studies curriculum in order to provide an accurate, complete, and inclusive history.

  2. To ensure that New Jersey teachers can effectively teach the revised social studies core curriculum content standards.

  3. To create and coordinate workshops, seminars, institutes, memorials, and events that raise public awareness about the importance of the history of African Americans to the growth and development of American society in a global context.

• LGBTQ People and People with Disabilities (Section 18A:35-4.35)
  This act requires boards of education to include instruction and adopt instructional materials for middle and high school students that accurately portray the political, economic, and social contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

  1. A board of education shall include instruction on the political, economic, and social contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in an appropriate place in the curriculum of middle school and high school students as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

  2. When adopting instructional materials for use in the secondary schools of the district, a board of education shall only adopt instructional materials which, in its determination, accurately portray the cultural and economic diversity of society, including the political, economic, and social contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

• Diversity and Inclusion (Section 18A:35-4.36a)
  Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, each school district shall incorporate instruction on diversity and inclusion in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The instruction will:

  1. Highlight and promote diversity, including economic diversity, equity, inclusion, tolerance, and belonging in connection with gender and sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, disabilities and religious tolerance; 

  2. Examine the impact that unconscious bias and economic disparities have at both an individual level and on society as a whole; and 

  3. Encourage safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for all students regardless of race or ethnicity, sexual and gender identities, mental and physical disabilities, socioeconomic status, and religious beliefs.
     
     

• Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (Section 18A:35-4.44)
  This act, which took effect in the 2021-2022 school year,  requires school districts to provide instruction on the history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as part of the implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies for students in grades kindergarten through 12. 

  1. A board of education shall include instruction on the history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the school district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. 

  2. When adopting instructional materials for use in the school district, a board of education shall adopt inclusive instructional materials that portray the cultural and economic diversity of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 

The NJDOE provides sample activities and lessons here. 

The calendar below shows the supplemental lessons that have been developed for Haddonfield Elementary School students.