N.J. Stat. Ann. § 18A:46-2.1

The Legislature finds that impaired hearing can greatly handicap a child's ability to acquire language and develop speech. This can have a profoundly negative effect, not only on the child's intellectual development, but on his emotional and social development as well. The Legislature further finds that in order to safeguard the well-being of those children in this State with significant hearing loss it is of the utmost importance that they be provided with adequate educational services. This bill attempts to insure that the educational needs of all hearing impaired children are met by establishing within the Department of Education the position of coordinator of deaf education.