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:
C.18A:26-2.18 Teacher leader endorsement.
1. The State Board of Education shall authorize a teacher leader endorsement to the instructional certificate. To be eligible for the teacher leader endorsement an applicant shall complete a program of study with an approved provider for the teacher leader endorsement.
C.18A:26-2.19 Teacher Leader Endorsement Advisory Board.
2. a. There shall be established an 11-member Teacher Leader Endorsement Advisory Board in the Department of Education. The members of the advisory board shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Education as follows: one officer or employee of the department; four members upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Education Association; one member upon the recommendation of the American Federation of Teachers-New Jersey; two members upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey School Boards Association; and one member upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
b. Members of the advisory board, other than the member who is an officer or employee of the department, shall serve for a three-year term; except that of the initial appointees, the member appointed upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, one of the members appointed upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, and one of the members appointed upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Education Association shall serve for a term of three years; the members appointed upon the recommendation of the American Federation of Teachers-New Jersey and the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and one of the members appointed upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Education Association shall serve for a term of two years; and the member appointed upon the recommendation of the New Jersey School Boards Association, one of the members appointed upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, and two of the members appointed upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Education Association shall serve for a term of one year.
c. The advisory board shall organize no later than two months following the effective date of P.L.2015, c.111 (C.18A:26-2.18 et seq.), and shall elect a chair and a vice-chair from among its members.
d. The advisory board shall, no later than six months following its organization, or as it deems necessary, make recommendations to the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education regarding the requirements to be eligible to receive the teacher leader endorsement and the program of study for the teacher leader endorsement. The recommendations shall be aligned with the teacher leader model standards set forth in subsection f. of this section. The recommendations regarding the program of study may include, but need not be limited to, field experiences and additional coursework acquired beyond the standards.
e. The advisory board shall meet at least monthly until it makes its initial recommendations to the commissioner and the State board regarding the requirements to be eligible to receive the teacher leader endorsement and the program of study for the teacher leader endorsement. The advisory board shall continue to meet as necessary to make recommendations regarding necessary adjustments to the program of study for the teacher leader endorsement, assess outcomes associated with the various providers of the programs of study for the teacher leader endorsement, and consider emergent research and best practices in teacher leadership.
f. Pursuant to the teacher leader model standards, a teacher with the teacher leader endorsement shall be prepared to:
(1) Foster a collaborative culture to support educator development and student learning, which shall include understanding the principles of adult learning and how to develop a collaborative culture of collective responsibility;
(2) Support collaborative team structures, including professional learning communities, and promote an environment of trust, respect, and collegiality to advance continuous improvement in instruction and student learning;
(3) Access and use research to improve practices and student learning, which shall include understanding how to use research, and how to model and facilitate with colleagues systematic inquiry and research use as a critical component of teachers’ ongoing learning and development in improving teaching and learning;
(4) Promote professional learning for continuous improvement, which shall include understanding the evolving nature of teaching and learning, understanding established and emerging technologies and the school community, and sharing this knowledge with colleagues to promote, design, and facilitate job-embedded professional learning aligned with school improvement goals;
(5) Facilitate improvements in instruction and student learning, which shall include demonstrating and using a thorough understanding of the teaching and learning processes to advance the professional skills of colleagues by being a continuous learner, modeling reflective practice based on student needs, and coaching or working collaboratively with colleagues to ensure that instructional practices are aligned to a shared mission, vision, and goals;
(6) Promote the use of assessments and data for school and district improvement, which shall include being knowledgeable about research on current classroom- and school-based design and selection of appropriate formative and summative assessment methods, sharing that knowledge, and collaborating with colleagues in using assessments and other data to make informed decisions regarding student learning and in influencing school improvement practices, district improvement practices, or both;
(7) Improve outreach and collaboration with families and community, which shall include understanding the significant impact that families, cultures, and communities have on educational processes and student learning and working with colleagues to promote ongoing systematic collaboration with families, community members, business and community leaders, and other stakeholders to improve the educational system and expand student learning opportunities to support cultures of student success; and
(8) Advocate for student learning and the teaching and education profession.
g. No later than five years following the effective date of P.L.2015, c.111 (C.18A:26-2.18 et seq.), the advisory board shall evaluate programmatic and other data collected from the approved providers pursuant to subsection c. of section 3 of P.L.2015, c.111 (C.18A:26-2.20), and make recommendations to the State board regarding non-supervisory roles and responsibilities for which a teacher leader endorsement should be required.
C.18A:26-2.20 Application to offer program of study for the teacher leader endorsement.
3. a. An institution of higher education, an educational organization, or other non-profit entity, or a combination thereof, may apply to the Department of Education to offer a program of study for the teacher leader endorsement.
b. The Commissioner of Education shall approve programs of study that meet the standards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2015, c.111 (C.18A:26-2.22).
The commissioner shall consider the recommendations of the Teacher Leader Endorsement Advisory Board.
c. Any data collected from the approved providers of the program of study shall be provided to the Teacher Leader Endorsement Advisory Board to support the board’s work. The data collection shall protect individuals’ privacy, and notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.), the data shall not be accessible to the public.
C.18A:26-2.21 Construction of act.
4. Nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the right to determine any additional compensation and release time for the responsibilities of a teacher with a teacher leader endorsement, in addition to any other terms and conditions of employment related to these teachers, through collective negotiations.
C.18A:26-2.22 Rules, regulations.
5. 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:
a. Set standards for the program of study for the teacher leader endorsement; and
b. Set standards for the approval of providers of programs of study for the teacher leader endorsement.
6. This act shall take effect 90 days after the date of enactment.
Approved September 18, 2015.