Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Mandates training on culturally responsive teaching for all candidates for teaching certification.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain training for prospective teachers 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. a. Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, all candidates for teaching certification who have completed an educator preparation program at a commissioner-approved educator preparation program provider shall have satisfactorily completed a course or training on culturally responsive teaching.
b. All commissioner-approved educator preparation program providers shall review and update their educator preparation programs to implement the requirements of this section and submit the revisions to the Department of Education for approval.
c. As used in this section, culturally responsive teaching means a pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students cultural references in all aspects of learning, and which uses research-based teaching strategies that make meaningful connections between what students learn in school and their cultures, languages, and experiences.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, all candidates for teaching certification who have completed an educator preparation program at a commissioner-approved educator preparation program provider must have satisfactorily completed a course or training on culturally responsive teaching.
The bill further requires that all commissioner-approved educator preparation program providers review and update their educator preparation programs to implement the bill s requirements and submit the revisions to the Department of Education for approval.
The bill defines culturally responsive teaching to mean: a pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students cultural references in all aspects of learning, and which uses research-based teaching strategies that make meaningful connections between what students learn in school and their cultures, languages, and experiences.