The Teacher Certification Reform Act of 2025 aims to streamline and enhance the teacher certification process in New Jersey to address the ongoing teacher shortage, particularly in high-need areas such as special education, STEM, and bilingual education. The bill introduces several new endorsements to the instructional certificate, including a Students with Disabilities Preschool through Grade 12 endorsement, a revised Elementary School endorsement, a Bilingual and Bicultural Preschool through Grade 12 endorsement, and a General Science endorsement. It also allows current holders of similar endorsements to transition to the new endorsements upon application to the State Board of Examiners. Additionally, the bill renames existing endorsements related to auditory impairments and modifies testing requirements for candidates seeking an Elementary School endorsement.

Key provisions of the bill include the removal of the requirement for teacher candidates to achieve a minimum score on each individual subtest of the State test for subject matter knowledge, instead allowing for a minimum average composite score. This change, along with the introduction of new endorsements and the renaming of existing ones, is designed to make the certification process more accessible and equitable, thereby attracting a diverse and qualified teaching workforce. The bill emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards for teacher quality while reducing barriers that have historically deterred potential educators from entering the profession.