Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO
District 28 (Essex)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits State Board of Education requirements concerning completion of performance based assessment for certain teacher certificates.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning teacher certification and supplementing chapter 26 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. (1) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall not require completion of a commissioner-approved performance based assessment as a condition of eligibility for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing.
(2) A certificate of eligibility with advanced standing educator preparation program shall not consider whether a candidate has completed a commissioner-approved performance based assessment when determining whether to recommend a candidate for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing to the commissioner.
b. (1) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State board shall not require completion of a commissioner-approved performance based assessment as a condition of eligibility for a standard certificate for candidates who hold a certificate of eligibility.
(2) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall not require completion of a commissioner-approved performance based assessment as a condition of completing a certificate of eligibility educator preparation program.
c. As used in this section,
“Certificate of eligibility” means a certificate with lifetime validity issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet degree, academic, and applicable test requirements for teacher certification.
“Certificate of eligibility with advanced standing” means a certificate with lifetime validity issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet degree, academic, and test requirements for teacher certification and complete an educator preparation program.
“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Education.
“Performance based assessment” means a formal assessment of a teacher candidate’s or provisional teacher’s preparedness to plan instruction and assessment, instruct and engage students, and evaluate student learning, including, but not limited to, the edTPA.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that the
State Board of Education is prohibited
from requiring a candidate for a certificate of eligibility with advanced
standing (CEAS) to complete a Commissioner of Education-approved performance
based assessment as a condition of eligibility for the CEAS. The bill also
prohibits a CEAS educator preparation program from considering whether a
candidate for a CEAS has completed a commissioner-approved performance based
assessment when determining whether to recommend a candidate for CEAS
certification.
The bill prohibits the State board from requiring a candidate for a standard certificate who possess a certificate of eligibility (CE) to complete a commissioner-approved performance based assessment as a condition of eligibility for the standard certificate. The bill also prohibits the State board from requiring completion of a commissioner-approved performance based assessment as a condition of completing a CE educator preparation program.
Currently, the State uses the edTPA for purposes of implementing various requirements to complete a commissioner-approved performance based assessment established under regulations promulgated by the State board. This bill defines “performance based assessment” as a formal assessment of a teacher candidate’s or provisional teacher’s preparedness to plan instruction and assessment, instruct and engage students, and evaluate student learning, including, but not limited to, the edTPA.