Bill Text: NJ S432 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Allows a candidate for a teacher certificate an exemption to the grade point average requirement under certain circumstances.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S432 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S432-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Allows a candidate for a teacher certificate an exemption to the grade point average requirement under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
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. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a candidate for a certificate of eligibility or a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing in an instructional area who graduated prior to September 1, 2004 shall not be required to have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5, when a grade point average of 4.0 equals an "A" grade, in a baccalaureate degree program, higher degree program or in a State-approved post-baccalaureate certification program with a minimum of 13 semester hours, if the Board of Examiners determines that an exemption to this requirement should be granted to the candidate.
b. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), that set forth the criteria upon which the Board of Examiners shall evaluate granting an exemption. The criteria shall include a review of:
(1) the year in which the candidate graduated;
(2) the grading policies in place during the candidate's attendance at the institution;
(3) events that took place during the candidate's attendance at the institution that may have affected the candidate's grade point average;
(4) admissions criteria at the institution attended by the candidate;
(5) whether a critical need for teachers exists in the endorsement area in which the candidate is seeking a teaching assignment; and
(6) the difficulty of the course work undertaken by the candidate at the institution.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Under current regulations, candidates for teaching certificates who graduated prior to September 1, 2004 are required to have graduated with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 in a baccalaureate degree program, higher degree program or in a State-approved post-baccalaureate certification program with a minimum of 13 semester hours. This bill would permit candidates for certification to be given an exemption to this requirement by the Board of Examiners. The bill requires the State Board of Education to promulgate rules setting forth the criteria upon which the Board of Examiners would evaluate granting an exemption. The criteria will include a review of:
(1) the year in which the candidate graduated;
(2) the grading policies in place during the candidate's attendance at the institution;
(3) events that took place during the candidate's attendance at the institution that may have affected the candidate's grade point average;
(4) admissions criteria at the institution attended by the candidate;
(5) whether a critical need for teachers exists in the endorsement area in which the candidate is seeking a teaching assignment; and
(6) the difficulty of the course work undertaken by the candidate at the institution.
