This bill amends the requirements for teacher candidates seeking an instructional certificate with an elementary school teacher endorsement in New Jersey. Specifically, it prohibits the Department of Education (DOE) from mandating a minimum score on any individual subtest of a Commissioner-approved test in the areas of reading and language arts, mathematics, social studies, or science. Instead, the DOE will require candidates to achieve a minimum average score across these individual subtests, with the specific average score to be determined by the Commissioner of Education.

The current law requires candidates to achieve a passing score on each individual subtest, which this bill seeks to change by focusing on an overall average score instead. This shift aims to provide a more flexible assessment approach for teacher candidates, potentially allowing for a broader evaluation of their competencies across multiple subject areas rather than on a single subtest basis. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon enactment.