If any parent or teaching staff member disagrees with the decision either that a pupil exit from or remain in the district's bilingual education program, the parent or teaching staff member may appeal this decision. After exhausting a local appeal process, any parent or guardian who is not satisfied with the district's explanation for its decision shall have the right to a hearing as a contested case before the Commissioner of Education or his designee. The final decision on a child's placement shall be based on the best interests of the child in accordance with the assessment criteria set forth in section 1 of this amendatory and supplementary act. An appeal under this provision shall be heard and decided by the commissioner or his designee on an expedited basis.
N.J.S. § 18A:35-19.2