New Jersey Legislature Modifies Teacher Certification Requirements
TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Legislature has recently amended a bill related to teacher certification, significantly altering the criteria for obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility (CE). This change permits teacher candidates who meet all CE criteria, barring the minimum scores on the Praxis Core tests, to receive an alternative certificate of eligibility.
Under this amendment, teachers using an alternative certificate for four years of continuous employment will be eligible for a standard certificate, provided they fulfill all standard requirements. Furthermore, this employment period under the alternative certificate will be considered for tenure eligibility, aligning with the terms for those holding a standard teaching certificate.
Additionally, the amendment has streamlined the certification process by removing references to certificates of eligibility with advanced standing and specific testing requirements for subject matter knowledge.
This legislative update brings the bill in line with Assembly Bill No. 4525 (1R), which underwent similar amendments. This revised approach to teacher certification aims to broaden the pool of qualified teaching candidates and address shortages in various subject areas and regions across the state. The bill is now poised for further legislative processes.
Governor Murphy signed the bill into law on Monday.