Bill Text: NJ S3172 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes teacher certification route for candidates with Montessori teaching credentials.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2024-01-16 - Pocket Veto - Bills not Acted on by Governor-end of Session [S3172 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-S3172-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes teacher certification route for candidates with Montessori teaching credentials.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As amended by the Senate on June 20, 2023.
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. a. As used in this section1[,]:1
"Certificate of eligibility" means a certificate with lifetime validity issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet degree, academic, and applicable test requirements for teacher certification.
1"Provisional certificate" means a certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who hold either a certificate of eligibility or a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing and are employed as part of a State approved district training program or residency leading to standard certification.
"Standard instructional certificate" means a permanent certificate issued to a person who has met all teacher certification requirements.1
b. The State Board of Education shall authorize a route to teacher certification for candidates 1seeking a certificate of eligibility with a preschool through grade three endorsement or an elementary school (kindergarten through six) endorsement1 who possess a Montessori teaching credential. To be eligible for this route to teacher certification, a candidate shall:
(1) hold a Montessori teaching credential issued by the American Montessori Society, the Association Montessori Internationale, or an institution accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education;
(2) hold a bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution of higher education; and
(3) meet the applicable test requirements for a certificate of eligibility.
1In order to obtain a provisional or standard instructional certificate, a candidate seeking a certificate of eligibility with a preschool through grade three endorsement or an elementary school (kindergarten through grade six) endorsement who meets the criteria established pursuant to this section shall not be required to complete:
(1) 50 hours of pre-professional experience or credits of preschool through grade three pedagogy at a Department of Education-approved institution of higher education;
(2) 350 hours of credits or coursework after employment; or
(3) 24 credits after employment.1
c. The State Board of Examiners shall issue a certificate of eligibility to a candidate who meets the criteria established pursuant to this section. A candidate eligible for a certificate of eligibility pursuant to this 1[act] section1 shall not be required to complete a State1-1approved educator preparation program1, but shall be required to complete a Montessori teacher preparation program that:
(1) is affiliated with the American Montessori Society, the Association Montessori Internationale, or is accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education; and
(2) requires a minimum of 200 academic hours and 400 practicum hours1.
d. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
