SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2833

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 14, 2021

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 2833 with committee amendments.

     As amended, this bill establishes a Teacher Apprenticeship Program, the purpose of which is to offer stipends and provide program participants with the education and field experience necessary to obtain a New Jersey certificate of eligibility with advanced standing (CEAS), a credential that allows an individual to seek and accept employment as a teacher in a public school.  The Teacher Apprenticeship Program is open to public high school students entering grade 12 and paraprofessionals with an associate degree who are employed in a public school and meet certain eligibility criteria.

     Under the bill, a public school and institution of higher education chosen by the Department of Education to offer the Teacher Apprenticeship Program will jointly enter into an agreement with the department in which the public school and institution of higher education agree to provide program participants with the education and field experience necessary to obtain a CEAS.

     Under this bill, the Teacher Apprenticeship program will be comprised of three stages.  Stage one of the program is open to high school students entering grade 12, stage two of the program is open to individuals who have completed stage one of the program and paraprofessionals with an associate degree, and stage three of the program is open to individuals who have completed stage two of the program.  Individuals who complete stage three of the program will be awarded a Teacher Apprentice II credential.  Individuals with a Teacher Apprentice II credential who meet the general certification requirements established by the State Board of Education will be eligible for a CEAS.

     Under the bill, a program participant will receive a yearly stipend award, which will be distributed in such manner as determined by the commissioner and secretary.  The stipends will be awarded as follows: (1) $2,000 during stage one of the program; (2) $10,000 per year during stage two of the program; and (3) $15,000 during stage three of the program.  In order to receive the full stipend award during stages two and three, the program participant must be enrolled full-time in an institution of higher education and complete all required hours of field experience.  The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, may authorize partial distribution of the stipend award when a program participant is unable to enroll full-time in a course of study or fails to complete the required hours of field experience.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to provide an effective date of the first day of the 13th month next following the date of enactment and that authorizes the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education, to take anticipatory administrative action in advance as necessary for the timely implementation of the bill.