The bill establishes the New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force, which is tasked with examining and evaluating the educator evaluation process as outlined in the Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act. The task force will consist of 12 members with expertise in educator evaluation and will gather data, assess the current evaluation system, and make recommendations for improvements. It is required to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by September 30, 2024. The bill also mandates that the Department of Education provide necessary support to the task force.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the use of student growth data in educator evaluations. Specifically, it states that during the 2024-2025 school year, teachers will not collect new student growth objective data; instead, they will use existing data from the most recent year in which they completed such objectives. New teachers or those without prior objectives will still be required to set and collect data on their growth objectives. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, school districts will implement guidelines for collecting student growth data based on the task force's findings. The bill also includes specific amendments to the standards for evaluation rubrics, ensuring they incorporate multiple measures of student learning and professional standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:6-123