18A:37-26 Inservice workshops, training programs.

23. a. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with recognized experts in school bullying from a cross section of academia, child advocacy organizations, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, and government agencies, shall establish inservice workshops and training programs to train selected public school employees to act as district anti-bullying coordinators and school anti-bullying specialists in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2010, c.122 (C.18A:37-13.1 et al.). The commissioner shall seek to make the workshops and training programs available and administered online through the department's website or other existing online resources. The commissioner shall evaluate the effectiveness of the consulting group on an annual basis. The inservice training programs may utilize the offices of the executive county superintendent of schools, or such other institutions, agencies, or persons as the commissioner deems appropriate. Each board of education shall provide time for the inservice training during the usual school schedule in order to ensure that appropriate personnel are prepared to act in the district as district anti-bullying coordinators and school anti-bullying specialists.

b. Upon completion of the initial inservice training program, the commissioner shall ensure that programs and workshops that reflect the most current information on harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools are prepared and made available to district anti-bullying coordinators and school anti-bullying specialists at regular intervals.

L.2010, c.122, s.23.