This bill establishes a program within the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) aimed at supporting school districts in creating "grow-your-own" teacher programs specifically for hiring teachers of students with disabilities. The program encourages districts to make a good faith effort to hire current employees who are not certified as teaching staff and provide them with training and mentoring opportunities to become certified teachers. The DOE will offer financial and other support to selected school districts, which must apply and demonstrate their need for additional teachers, their plans for recruiting and training employees, and their commitment to funding the certification process for participating employees.

To qualify for support, school districts must submit a detailed application that outlines their grow-your-own program, including anticipated participation levels, the extent of teacher shortages, and plans for mentoring and ongoing support for new teachers. The DOE will prioritize districts with the greatest shortages of teachers for students with disabilities and ensure a diverse representation of school districts across different regions and community types. The bill does not alter existing certification requirements for teachers of students with disabilities.