TRENTON, NJ – A bill introduced in New Jersey seeks to alter the requirements for teacher candidates aspiring to obtain an instructional certificate with an elementary school teacher endorsement. The proposed legislation aims to eliminate the mandate for achieving a minimum score on individual subtests in areas such as reading and language arts, mathematics, social studies, or science.
Instead, the Department of Education would establish a requirement for a minimum average score across these subtests. The adjustment intends to offer a more holistic evaluation of a teacher candidate’s competencies. The responsibility to determine the minimum average score falls to the Commissioner of Education.
The current policy mandates that teacher candidates secure a passing score on each specified subtest to qualify for the endorsement. This legislative proposal marks a significant shift in the certification process for elementary school teachers in New Jersey.