ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4377

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 4, 2010

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4377.

      P.L.2009, c.51, approved in May of 2009, established an 18-month pilot program in the Department of Education to address the shortage of mathematics and science teachers in the State.  Under the program, the State Board of Examiners is authorized to issue teaching certificates to individuals with mathematics or science skills and work-related backgrounds in these subject areas.  The program focuses on displaced New Jersey workers and certified teaching staff members authorized to work in New Jersey public schools who do not currently have a subject area endorsement in mathematics or in the sciences.  This bill would extend the pilot program, which is scheduled to expire in January of 2011, by an additional 12 months.