SENATE, No. 145

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Senator LYNCH

An Act concerning teacher certification and supplementing Chapter 6 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. Beginning with the 1996-97 school year all candidates for teaching certification shall satisfactorily complete a course equivalent to three semester hours in comprehensive school health education at an accredited postsecondary institution.

    b. Beginning with the 1996-97 school year any person seeking certification through the alternate route shall, within one year of being employed, satisfactorily complete a course equivalent to three semester hours in comprehensive school health education at an accredited postsecondary institution.

    c. For the purposes of this act "Comprehensive school health education course" means a course about health education that would prepare a teaching staff member to instruct students in the areas of maintaining, reinforcing, or enhancing their health, health-related knowledge, skills and health attitudes and practices of children and youth that are conducive to their good health and that promote wellness, health maintenance, and disease prevention.

    2. All current teaching staff members shall be encouraged to pursue continuing education courses in comprehensive school health education. Any regulations promulgated by the Department of Education concerning teacher re-certification or professional development shall include a provision requiring the satisfactory completion of a comprehensive school health education course.

    3. The Office of Professional Development and the Office of Licensing and Academic Credentials of the Department of Education shall work in conjunction to monitor and enforce this act.

    4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill provides that beginning with the 1996-97 school year any candidate for teacher certification must complete a comprehensive school health education course at an accredited postsecondary institution prior to employment or within one year of being employed.

    The bill provides that a comprehensive school health education course means a course about health education that maintains, reinforces, or enhances health-related knowledge, skills and attitudes and practices that promote wellness and health.

    The bill also provides that all current teaching staff members be encouraged to pursue continuing education in comprehensive school health education. In addition, any regulations promulgated by the Department of Education concerning teacher re-certification or professional development must include a provision requiring the satisfactory completion of a comprehensive health education course.

    These provisions would be monitored and enforced by the Office of Professional Development and the Office of Licensing and Academic Credentials.

Requires candidates for teacher certification to complete health education course.