NJ S2598

Requires New Jersey public schools, educational services commissions, and approved private schools to adopt policies governing removal of students pending mental health clearance, limiting removals to emergencies where students exhibit behavior posing immediate physical danger to themselves or others

Mandates immediate parent/guardian notification upon removal decision, with a full written incident report within 48 hours, and appropriate instruction for students removed more than five days

Requires mental health clearance by a licensed clinician (social worker, psychologist, counselor, psychiatric nurse, or psychiatrist) at no cost to families when using approved provider lists; families may choose unlisted clinicians but must bear the cost

Directs the State Board of Education to establish regulations defining removal criteria, maximum removal duration, mental health clearance standards, and procedures for challenging continued removal decisions

Requires annual data collection and public reporting on student removals, disaggregated by disability status, race, gender, and age, to be published on Department of Education and school websites