SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 858

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  MAY 14, 2018

 

     The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 858.

     Under State Board of Education regulations, in order to teach health and physical education, physical education, or health in grades kindergarten through six in a public school, a teacher is not required to have these specific endorsements to the instructional certificate.  A teacher with an elementary school endorsement, pursuant to certain regulations, would be permitted to teach these courses.

     This bill requires that teachers appointed to teach health, health and physical education, or physical education in grades kindergarten through six possess the appropriate endorsement to their instructional certificate.  However, the bill exempts from the bill’s endorsement requirements persons who teach former Abbott district kindergarten students under a contract between the former Abbott district and a licensed child care center or other provider.  The bill also includes a “grandfather” provision that will allow teachers who received an elementary school endorsement prior to the bill’s effective date to continue to be permitted to teach health and physical education, physical education, or health at these grade levels.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2018-2019 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.