Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Teacher Apprenticeship Program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a Teacher Apprenticeship Program and supplementing chapter 6 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:
Commissioner means the Commissioner of Education.
Field experience means observing and assisting with student learning which may include, but is not limited to, providing operational support to public schools; assisting instructional staff with data entry, grading, lesson planning, parental communication, and assessment development; and conducting classroom instruction.
Paraprofessional means an individual who is employed in a public school as a school aide or classroom aide who assists a teaching staff member with the supervision of pupil activities.
Program means the Teacher Apprenticeship Program established pursuant to section 2 of this act.
Program participant means a public high school student entering grade 12 and a paraprofessional with an associate degree who has been accepted into the Teacher Apprenticeship Program.
Public school means a school district, charter school, and renaissance school in the State.
Secretary means the Secretary of Higher Education.
2. The Commissioner of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Higher Education, shall establish a Teacher Apprenticeship Program, the purpose of which shall be to offer stipends and provide program participants with the education and field experience necessary to obtain a New Jersey certificate of eligibility with advanced standing.
3. a. A public school and an accredited four-year institution of higher education with a Department of Education approved educator preparation program that wish to offer the Teacher Apprenticeship Program shall jointly apply to the Department of Education in such manner as determined by the commissioner in consultation with the secretary. The application shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) a dual enrollment agreement between the public school and institution of higher education;
(2) the number of teachers in the public school and faculty at the institution of higher education available to provide college level instruction in connection with the program; and
(3) a program implementation plan which includes information on the types of services in place to support students enrolled in the program.
b. A public school and institution of higher education selected to offer the program shall jointly enter into an agreement with the department in which the public school and institution of higher education agree to provide program participants with the education and field experience necessary to obtain a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing.
4. The Teacher Apprenticeship Program shall be comprised of three stages during which a program participant shall complete the coursework and field experience necessary to obtain a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing.
a. Stage one of the program shall be open to high school students entering grade 12. A program participant who completes stage one of the program shall be awarded a School Apprentice credential. In order to complete stage one, a program participant shall:
(1) earn 30 college credits in accordance with State Board of Education regulations;
(2) author a literature review on a topic approved by the program participant s academic advisor;
(3) perform 200 hours of field experience; and
(4) pass a commissioner-approved paraprofessional general aptitude exam.
b. Stage two of the program shall be open to individuals with a School Apprentice credential and paraprofessionals with an associate degree. A program participant who completes stage two of the program shall be awarded a Teacher Apprentice I credential. In order to complete stage two, a program participant shall:
(1) earn a cumulative total of 90 college credits in accordance with State Board of Education regulations;
(2) perform 1500 hours of field experience per year; and
(3) pass an appropriate State test of subject matter knowledge.
c. Stage three of the program shall be open to individuals with a Teacher Apprentice I credential. A program participant who completes stage three of the program shall be awarded a Teacher Apprentice II credential. In order to complete stage three, the program participant shall:
(1) earn a cumulative total of 120 college credits in accordance with State Board of Education regulations;
(2) perform 1500 hours of field experience per year;
(3) complete all necessary requirements for and obtain a bachelor s degree; and
(4) pass a commissioner-approved performance-based assessment.
d. An individual who possesses a Teacher Apprentice II credential awarded pursuant to the provisions of this act and meets the general certification requirements including, but not limited to, citizenship, age, and examination requirements, established by the State Board of Education shall be eligible for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing.
5. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant shall:
a. be a resident of New Jersey;
b. if a high school student:
(1) pass a background check administered by the Department of Education; and
(2) have a minimum cumulative grade point average of a 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, or its equivalent, at the time of application to the program; and
c. if a paraprofessional with an associate degree, have graduated from a county college with a minimum cumulative grade point average of a 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, or its equivalent.
6. a. A high school student who wishes to participate in the program shall submit an application to the public school in which the student is enrolled and to the institution of higher education that has partnered with the public school to offer the program. The application, which shall be submitted by the end of the fall semester of the applicant s junior year of high school, shall includ