STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 1287
with Senate Floor Amendments
(Proposed by Senator BEACH)
ADOPTED: MAY 13, 2024
These Senate floor amendments provide that the State Board of
Education is not to require a candidate seeking any instructional
certificate, except in the case of a limited certificate of eligibility or a
limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing to complete a
Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing,
and mathematics skills including the Praxis Core Academic Skills for
Educators test, in order to obtain an instructional certificate.
These floor amendments also provide that the State Board of
Education is to be prohibited from requiring a commissioner-approved
educator preparation program to require the completion of a
commissioner-approved test of basic reading, writing, and
mathematics skills including the Praxis Core Academic Skills for
Educators test, as a condition for admission.
Finally, these amendments repeal P.L.2023, c.180, which permits a
teacher candidate who meets all criteria for a certificate of eligibility,
other than the requirement to meet certain minimum testing thresholds
in the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, receive an
alternative certificate of eligibility. Upon completion of four years of
continuous employment using an alternative certificate, the teacher is
eligible to receive a standard certificate.
These amendments make this bill identical to Assembly Bill No.
1669, also amended by the Senate on this same date.