Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblywoman MICHELE MATSIKOUDIS
District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Sauickie
SYNOPSIS
Establishes teacher certification route for candidates with Montessori teaching credentials.
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. 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.
b. The State Board of Education shall authorize a route to teacher certification for candidates who possess a Montessori teaching credential. To be eligible for this route to teacher certification, a candidate shall:
(1) hold a Montessori teaching credential issued by the American Montessori Society, the Association of Montessori International, or an institution accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education;
(2) hold a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited institution of higher education; and
(3) meet the applicable test requirements for a certificate of eligibility.
c. The State Board of Examiners shall issue a certificate of eligibility to a candidate who meets the criteria established pursuant to this section. A candidate eligible for a certificate of eligibility pursuant to this act shall not be required to complete a State approved educator preparation program.
d. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the State Board of Education to authorize a route to teacher certification for candidates who possess a Montessori teaching credential. To be eligible for this route to teacher certification, a candidate must, at minimum:
(1) hold a Montessori teaching credential issued by the American Montessori Society, the Association of Montessori International, or an institution accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education;
(2) hold a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited institution of higher education; and
(3) meet the applicable test requirements for a certificate of eligibility.
Candidates who meet the requirements for eligibility set forth in this bill will not be required to complete a State approved educator preparation program prior to certification.
Also under the bill, upon completion of the certification requirements, a candidate will be issued a certificate of eligibility by the Board of Examiners. This bill defines "certificate of eligibility" as 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.