SENATE, No. 863

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

210th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 11, 2002

Sponsored by:

Senator ROBERT W. SINGER

District 30 (Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean)

Senator JOSEPH SULIGA

District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)

SYNOPSIS

    Requires candidates for teaching certificates beginning in 2002-2003 school year to receive training in special education.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

    As introduced.

(Sponsorship Updated As Of: 3/12/2002)

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. Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, a candidate for a New Jersey instructional certificate shall satisfactorily complete training in special education theory and methods of teaching students with disabilities at an accredited institution of higher education.

    b. Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, a person seeking certification through the alternate route shall, within one year of being employed, satisfactorily complete training in special education theory and methods of teaching students with disabilities at an accredited institution of higher education.

    c. All teachers not subject to the provisions of subsection a. or b. of this section shall be required to pursue continuing education courses in special education theory and methods of teaching students with disabilities by the 2005-2006 school year.

    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.), to determine the number of credit hours necessary to satisfy the training requirement provided for in subsections a. and b. of this section.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill would require that beginning in the 2002-2003 school year, a candidate for a New Jersey instructional certificate, or a person seeking certification through the alternate route, satisfactorily complete training in special education theory and methods of teaching students with disabilities at an accredited institution of higher education.

    The State Board of Education will promulgate regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to determine the number of credit hours that will be required to be taken in order to satisfy the training requirement in special education theory and methods of teaching students with disabilities.

    The bill also provides that all teachers not subject to the certification requirements set forth in the bill will be required to pursue continuing education courses in special education theory and methods of teaching students with disabilities by the 2005-2006 school year.

    This bill recognizes the fact that children with disabilities need to be educated with children without disabilities in order to provide them with the most productive learning environment possible. However, it further recognizes that regular education teachers often do not fully understand the nature of the problems children with special needs may demonstrate or ways that the teacher could best help them. Mandating a certification requirement pertaining to special education theory and practical application would help regular education teachers to increase their expertise in this area and thereby work more effectively with children with disabilities.