[First Reprint] SENATE, No. 1287 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 221st LEGISLATURE PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
[First Reprint]
SENATE, No. 1287
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by: Senator JAMES BEACH District 6 (Burlington and Camden) Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer) Co-Sponsored by: Senators Diegnan and Burgess SYNOPSIS Removes obstacles to teacher certification for certain teachers; repeals law establishing alternative certificate of eligibility. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As amended by the Senate on May 13, 2024.
Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Diegnan and Burgess
SYNOPSIS
Removes obstacles to teacher certification for certain teachers; repeals law establishing alternative certificate of eligibility.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As amended by the Senate on May 13, 2024.
An Act concerning teacher certification 1[and] ,1 supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes1, and repealing P.L.2023, c.1801. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1[1. a. As used in this act: "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. "Certificate of eligibility with advanced standing" means a certificate with lifetime validity issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet degree, academic, and test requirements for teacher certification and complete an educator preparation program. "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. b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall not require a candidate seeking a certificate of eligibility, a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, a provisional certificate, or a standard instructional certificate to complete a Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills including, but not limited to, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, in order to obtain a certificate of eligibility, a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, a provisional certificate, or a standard instructional certificate.]1 1[2. This act shall take effect immediately.]1 11. a. Notwithstanding P.L.2021, c.420 (C.18A:26-34), or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall not 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 established pursuant to P.L. 2021, c. 224 (C.18A:26-2b et seq.), to complete a Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills including, but not limited to, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, in order to obtain an instructional certificate. b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall 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, but not limited to, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, as a condition for admission.1 12. The State Board of Education shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement this act.1 13. P.L.2023, c.180 (C.18A:26-34.1 et seq.) is repealed.1 14. Section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment. Sections 2 and 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall take effect immediately.1
An Act concerning teacher certification 1[and] ,1 supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes1, and repealing P.L.2023, c.1801.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1[1. a. As used in this act:
"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.
"Certificate of eligibility with advanced standing" means a certificate with lifetime validity issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet degree, academic, and test requirements for teacher certification and complete an educator preparation program.
"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.
b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall not require a candidate seeking a certificate of eligibility, a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, a provisional certificate, or a standard instructional certificate to complete a Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills including, but not limited to, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, in order to obtain a certificate of eligibility, a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, a provisional certificate, or a standard instructional certificate.]1
1[2. This act shall take effect immediately.]1
11. a. Notwithstanding P.L.2021, c.420 (C.18A:26-34), or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall not 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 established pursuant to P.L. 2021, c. 224 (C.18A:26-2b et seq.), to complete a Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills including, but not limited to, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, in order to obtain an instructional certificate.
b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall 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, but not limited to, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, as a condition for admission.1
12. The State Board of Education shall, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement this act.1
13. P.L.2023, c.180 (C.18A:26-34.1 et seq.) is repealed.1
14. Section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment. Sections 2 and 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall take effect immediately.1