Bill Text: NJ S2245 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires teachers of health and physical education in grades kindergarten through six in public schools to possess the appropriate endorsement to the instructional certificate, and includes a "grandfather" provision.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-05-18 - Substituted by A3256 (1R) [S2245 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S2245-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator PETER J. BARNES, III
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires teachers of health and physical education in grades kindergarten through six in public schools to possess the appropriate endorsement to the instructional certificate, and includes a "grandfather" provision.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning teacher certification in health and physical education 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. In addition to any other eligibility requirements prescribed by the State Board of Education, in order to be appointed by a board of education to teach health and physical education in grades kindergarten through six, a person shall possess a health and physical education endorsement to the instructional certificate.
b. In addition to any other eligibility requirements prescribed by the State Board of Education, in order to be appointed by a board of education to teach physical education in grades kindergarten through six, a person shall possess a physical education endorsement to the instructional certificate.
c. In addition to any other eligibility requirements prescribed by the State Board of Education, in order to be appointed by a board of education to teach health in grades kindergarten through six, a person shall possess a health endorsement to the instructional certificate.
d. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, a person who holds an elementary school endorsement to the instructional certificate prior to the effective date of this act, may be appointed by a board of education to teach health and physical education, physical education, or health in grades kindergarten through six, in accordance with any other requirements established by the State board.
2. This act shall take effect in the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
Under current law, in order to teach health and physical education, physical education, or health in grades kindergarten through six in a public school, a teacher is not required to have these specific endorsements to the instructional certificate. A teacher with an elementary school endorsement, pursuant to certain regulations, would be permitted to teach these courses. This bill will ensure that all health and physical education instruction at public schools is provided by individuals who have received comprehensive content and pedagogical training. In order to do this, the bill will require teachers appointed to teach these subjects in grades kindergarten through six to possess the appropriate endorsement to their instructional certificate. The bill, however, includes a "grandfather" provision that will allow teachers who received an elementary school endorsement prior to the effective date of the bill, to continue to be permitted to teach health and physical education, physical education, or health at these grade levels.
