In 2020, everything changed with the shift to “Transformative SEL."
Senate Bill S3156 is SEL on steroids. And it's being voted on in the New Jersey Senate on Monday.
S3156 "Permits Boards of Education to lease certain school property to federally qualified health centers without bidding." In other words, "health centers" prequalified by the Biden administration will be given space on school property to push SEL and -- without bidding -- there will be no questions asked, NOT EVEN ABOUT THE IMPACT ON TAXPAYERS.
No-bid contracts are a license for favoritism and political corruption.
S3156 is sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal, the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. He knows his bill is bad. He knows his bill is controversial. That's why he fast-tracked S3156 out of committee while it was still in draft form and unfinished. He didn't want the public to know about it or members of his committee to know what they were voting on.
SEL "health" centers on school property will make schools a one-stop shop without parental input. Mental and emotional health services will be provided to children without their parents' consent.
This bill is too broad, with too many unanswered questions because of the way it was pushed through his committee.
What makes this even more dangerous is that S1188 is still moving in the state legislature and will lower the age of consent for behavioral services to age 14!
This bill does not address the relationship between the clinic and the school. Nor does it address the safety issues regarding individuals from the wider public coming into a "health center" located in the same building as the children. This hastily conceived legislation is full of dangers to our children. Vote no on S 3156!