An Act concerning teacher certification, supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and repealing P.L.2023, c.180.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
C.18A:26-34.4 Commissioner of Education-approved test, basic skills, requirement, instructional certificate, admission, prohibited; exceptions.
1. a. Notwithstanding P.L.2021, c.420 (C.18A:26-34), or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall not require a candidate seeking any instructional certificate, except in the case of a limited certificate of eligibility or a limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing established pursuant to P.L. 2021, c. 224 (C.18A:26-2b et seq.), to complete a Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills including, but not limited to, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, in order to obtain an instructional certificate.
b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall be prohibited from requiring a commissioner-approved educator preparation program to require the completion of a commissioner-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills including, but not limited to, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, as a condition for admission.
2. The State Board of Education shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement this act.
Repealer.
3. P.L.2023, c.180 (C.18A:26-34.1 et seq.) is repealed.
4. Section 1 of P.L.2024, c.26 (C.18A:26-34.4) shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment. Sections 2 and 3 of P.L.2024, c.26 shall take effect immediately.
Approved June 28, 2024.