Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires State Board of Education to establish procedures for issuance of limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing and limited certificate of eligibility for certain teacher candidates.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning teacher certification and supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
Limited certificate of eligibility means a certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet the criteria established pursuant to section 3 of this act.
Limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing means a certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet the criteria established pursuant to section 2 of this act and complete a State-approved college professional educator preparation program.
2. a. No later than six months following the date of enactment, the State Board of Education shall authorize the issuance of a limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing to a teacher candidate who meets all other eligibility requirements for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, except any one of the following:
(1) the minimum grade point average requirement and all other alternative grade point average requirements or exceptions; or
(2) the requirement to achieve a minimum passing score on an appropriate State test of subject matter knowledge and all other alternative requirements or exceptions to achieving a passing score on an appropriate State test of subject matter knowledge.
b. The limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing authorized pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall only be used for employment in a school district, charter school, or renaissance school approved to hire individuals who hold the certificate pursuant to section 4 of this act.
3. a. No later than six months following the date of enactment, the State Board of Education shall authorize the issuance of a limited certificate of eligibility to a teacher candidate who meets all other eligibility requirements to receive a certificate of eligibility, except any one of the following:
(1) the requirement to complete a minimum number of subject area course credits and all other related alternative requirements or exceptions, except that a candidate applying for a limited certificate of eligibility shall hold a bachelor s degree at a minimum;
(2) the minimum grade point average requirement and all other alternative grade point average requirements or exceptions;
(3) the requirement to achieve a minimum score on a Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematical skills and all other alternative basic skills requirements or exceptions; or
(4) the requirement to achieve a minimum passing score on an appropriate State test of subject matter knowledge and all other alternative requirements or exceptions to achieving a passing score on an appropriate State test of subject matter knowledge.
b. The limited certificate of eligibility authorized pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall only be used for employment in a school district, charter school, or renaissance school approved to hire individuals who hold the certificate pursuant to section 4 of this act.
4. a. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school seeking to hire individuals who are issued limited certificates of eligibility with advanced standing or limited certificates of eligibility shall be approved by the Commissioner of Education to do so. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school shall apply to the commissioner in a manner and form to be prescribed by the commissioner. To be considered for approval to hire individuals who hold limited certificates of eligibility with advanced standing or limited certificates of eligibility, an applicant shall demonstrate a sufficient capability to provide support to new teachers and:
(1) a demographic disparity between the district s or school s student population and teachers; or
(2) a shortage of bilingual education teachers; or
(3) a critical need to fill teacher vacancies or a hardship caused by teacher vacancies.
b. During the first year of implementation of this act, the commissioner shall approve no less than 10 school districts, charter schools, or renaissance schools to hire individuals who hold limited certificates of eligibility with advanced standing or limited certificates of eligibility.
c. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school approved to hire individuals who hold limited certificates of eligibility with advanced standing or limited certificates of eligibility shall only hire up to 10 percent of its total teachers pursuant to this act.
d. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school approved to hire individuals who hold limited certificates of eligibility with advanced standing or limited certificates of eligibility shall annually submit a report to the commissioner evaluating the impact of hiring such individuals. The report shall contain the following information:
(1) the number of teachers who were issued a limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing or a limited certificate of eligibility;
(2) the subject areas in which the individuals teach and the courses they teach;
(3) how the hiring of individuals who were issued the limited certificates has impacted the district s or school s demographic disparity between its student population and teachers as well as the effect the hiring of those individuals has had on the district s or school s ability to fill teacher vacancies;
(4) student achievement data for students taught by the teachers who were issued the limited certificates, as determined by the commissioner; and
(5) any other information the commissioner deems necessary.
e. The commissioner shall annually submit to the State Board of Education a report summarizing the information submitted by school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools pursuant to subsection d. of