ASSEMBLY, No. 2619

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 13, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

Assemblywoman  SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex)

Assemblyman  RAJ MUKHERJI

District 33 (Hudson)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Jasey

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes alternate route to expedite certification of teachers at early college high school programs.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning early college high school teachers 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.  The State Board of Education shall authorize an alternate route to expedite the certification of persons who are qualified by education and experience to teach grades seven through 12 at an early college high school program.  The alternate route shall consist of a three-tiered certificate program.  The standards established by the State board shall include at a minimum:

     (1)   for receipt of an early college high school certificate of eligibility, the candidate shall:

     (a)   Hold an advanced degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a field related to the subject area to be taught, as determined by the State board;

     (b)   Have experience teaching students at any grade level, including postsecondary students; and

     (c)   Pass the appropriate State test of subject-matter knowledge.

     (2)   for receipt of an early college high school provisional certificate, the candidate shall provide proof that an early college high school intends to employ the candidate in a teaching position.

     (3)   for receipt of an early college high school  standard certificate, the candidate shall successfully complete at least four school years of teaching at the early college high school.

     b.    The certification provided pursuant to this section may be used only for employment at an early college high school and shall not satisfy the requirements for employment in any other public school.

     c.     As used in this section, “early college high school program” means a partnership between a school district and an institution of higher education that allows participants to simultaneously complete requirements toward earning a State-endorsed high school diploma and have the opportunity to earn credits that are transferable to the institution of higher education in the partnership as part of an organized course of study toward a postsecondary degree at no cost to the participant or participant’s family.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately. 

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     An early college high school program is a partnership between a school district and an institution of higher education that allows participants to simultaneously complete requirements toward earning a State-endorsed high school diploma and have the opportunity to earn credits that are transferable to the institution of higher education in the partnership as part of an organized course of study toward a postsecondary degree at no cost to the participant or participant’s family.  This bill would require the State Board of Education to authorize an alternate route to expedite the certification of persons to teach grades seven through 12 at an early college high school.  The alternate route will consist of a three-tiered certificate program, similar to the alternate route provided for teachers at charter schools in the State.

     Under the standards established for the early college high school alternate route:

·        Receipt of an early college high school certificate of eligibility will require the candidate to, at a minimum: hold an advanced degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a field related to the subject area to be taught; have experience teaching students at any grade level, including postsecondary students; and pass the appropriate State test of subject-matter knowledge; and

·        Receipt of the provisional certificate will require the candidate to, at a minimum, provide proof that an early college high school intends to employ the candidate in a teaching position; and

·        Receipt of the standard certificate will require the candidate to, at a minimum, successfully complete at least four school years of teaching at the early college high school.

     The bill provides that certification under the early college high school alternate route may be used only for employment at an early college high school and will not be permitted to satisfy the requirements for employment in any other public school.