ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2826

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 9, 2021

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2826 (1R).

      This bill directs the Department of Education to establish a five-year pilot program for the issuance of limited certificates of eligibility with advanced standing (CEAS) and limited certificates of eligibility (CE).  The State Board of Education will authorize the issuance of limited certificates of eligibility with advanced standing and limited certificates of eligibility within three months of the date of enactment rather than six months.

     Under the bill, a limited CEAS and a limited CE would be available to individuals who may not meet one of the general requirements for a CEAS or CE and who are seeking employment in a school district, charter school, or renaissance school after the effective date of the bill.  Individuals would be eligible for a limited CEAS if they do not meet one of the following requirements:  the minimum GPA requirement, and all other alternative grade point average requirements and exceptions; or the requirement to achieve a minimum passing score on an appropriate State test of subject matter knowledge (Praxis II) and any related alternative requirements or exceptions.  Individuals would be eligible for a limited CE if they do not meet one of the following requirements:  any requirement to complete a minimum number of subject area course credits;  the minimum GPA requirement;  the requirement to achieve a minimum score on a Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematical skills (Praxis Core) and all other alternative basic skills requirements or exceptions; or the requirement to achieve a minimum passing score on an appropriate State test of subject matter knowledge. 

An individual who holds a limited CEAS or limited CE would only be eligible to be hired at certain school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools that are required to be approved by the Commissioner of Education in order to be permitted to hire such individuals.  A district or school seeking to be approved to hire individuals holding the limited certificates must apply to the commissioner. An applicant must demonstrate a sufficient capability to provide support to new teachers and: a demographic disparity between the district’s or school’s student population and teaching staff; or a shortage of bilingual education teachers; or a critical need to fill teacher vacancies or hardship caused by teacher vacancies. 

     Under the bill, an individual who is issued a limited CEAS or a limited CE, is hired by a school district, charter school, or renaissance school approved to hire such an individual, and is teaching in the district or school under a provisional instructional certificate, will earn a standard instructional certificate upon receipt of at least two summative evaluation ratings of effective or highly effective within three consecutive years of teaching.  This requirement will be in addition to all other requirements for a standard instructional certificate established pursuant to State Board of Education regulations. 

      As reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4594, which was amended and reported by the committee on this same date.