Bill Text: NJ A4594 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Directs DOE to establish five-year pilot program for issuance of limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing and limited certificate of eligibility for certain teacher candidates.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-06-21 - Substituted by S2826 (1R) [A4594 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4594-Amended.html

---

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4594

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED AUGUST 25, 2020

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Assemblywoman  PAMELA R. LAMPITT

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Assemblywoman  VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Johnson

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

      Directs DOE to establish five-year pilot program for issuance of limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing and limited certificate of eligibility for certain teacher candidates.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Education Committee on June 9, 2021, with amendments.

  

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 ¹[3] 4¹ 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 ¹[2] 3¹ of this act and complete a State-approved college professional educator preparation program.

 

      ¹2.   There is established in the Department of Education a five-year pilot program under which the State Board of Education shall authorize the issuance of a limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing pursuant to section 3 of this act and a limited certificate of eligibility pursuant to section 4 of this act.¹

 

      ¹[2] 3.¹     a.  ¹[No] For the purposes of the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this act, no¹ later than ¹[six] three¹ 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 ¹[4] 5¹ of this act. 

 

        ¹[3] 4.¹     a.  ¹[No] For the purposes of the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this act, no¹ later than ¹[six] three¹ 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 ¹[4] 5¹ of this act. 

 

      ¹[4] 5.¹     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 ¹under the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this act¹ 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 ¹the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of¹ 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 ¹, during the period of the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this act,¹ 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 ¹, during the period of the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this act,¹ 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 this section. 

 

      ¹[5] 6.¹     Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation related to the evaluation of a provisional teacher for a standard instructional certificate to the contrary, an individual who is issued a limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing pursuant to section ¹[2] 3¹ of this act or a limited certificate of eligibility pursuant to section ¹[3] 4¹ of this act, is hired by a school district, charter school, or renaissance school approved to hire such an individual pursuant to section ¹[4] 5¹ of this act, and is teaching in the district or school under a provisional instructional certificate, shall earn a standard instructional certificate ¹[after two evaluations in which the individual scores effective or highly effective.  The individual shall earn the two evaluations of effective or highly effective within four years of being issued a limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing or a limited certificate of eligibility] upon receipt of at least two summative evaluation ratings of effective or highly effective earned within three consecutive years of teaching¹.  This requirement shall be in addition to all other requirements for a standard instructional certificate established pursuant to State Board of Education regulations. 

     ¹[6.] 7.¹     The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L. 1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

 

     ¹[7.] 8.¹      This act shall take effect immediately.