A4037

An Act concerning teacher reciprocity 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. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall establish a pathway for interstate reciprocity for a certificate of eligibility for a teacher who holds the equivalent of a valid certificate of eligibility in another state.

b. In order to be eligible for a certificate of eligibility pursuant to this section, an individual shall:

(1) hold a valid and current certificate of eligibility, or its equivalent, to teach issued by another state for which there is an equivalent and currently-issued New Jersey grade level or subject endorsement;

(2) have held employment as a public school teacher in the state in which the teacher holds the applicable certificate during one of the last two school years;

(3) submit an application to the State Board of Examiners that includes two letters of recommendation, one of which shall be from a current or former supervisor, principal, or employing public school’s human resource officer;

(4) pass a criminal history record check in accordance with section 1 of P.L.1986, c.116 (C.18A:6-7.1);

(5) comply with the provisions of R.S.52:14-7; and

(6) satisfy any other requirement the State Board of Education deems necessary.

c. The State Board of Education shall not require a person eligible for a certificate of eligibility pursuant to the provisions of this section to complete a performance-based assessment or test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills as a condition of eligibility for a certificate of eligibility.

2. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall establish a pathway for interstate reciprocity for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing for a teacher who holds the equivalent of a valid certificate of eligibility with advanced standing in another state.

b. In order to be eligible for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing pursuant to this section, an individual shall:

(1) hold a valid and current certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, or its equivalent, to teach issued by another state for which there is an equivalent and currently-issued New Jersey grade level or subject endorsement;

(2) have held employment as a public school teacher in the state in which the teacher holds the applicable certificate during one of the last two school years;

(4) pass a criminal history record check in accordance with section 1 of P.L.1986, c.116 (C.18A:6-7.1);

(5) comply with the provisions of R.S.52:14-7; and

(6) satisfy any other requirement the State Board of Education deems necessary.

c. The State Board of Education shall not require a person eligible for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing pursuant to the provisions of this section to complete a performance-based assessment or test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills as a condition of eligibility for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing

3. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and 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 act.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill requires the State Board of Education to establish a pathway for interstate reciprocity for a certificate of eligibility (CE) and certificate of eligibility with advanced standing (CEAS) for a teacher who holds the equivalent of a valid certificate in another state.

Current regulations provide a pathway for reciprocity for a CEAS. Additionally, a pilot program that permits certain individuals to receive reciprocity for a CE is ongoing. Pursuant to N.J.A.C.6A:9B-8.8, in order to obtain reciprocity for a CEAS, an individual is required to (1) hold a valid CEAS issued by another state in a subject area or grade level also offered by the New Jersey Department of Education, following, with limited exception, the completion of a CEAS educator preparation program that includes clinical practice and endorsement in a subject that is also issued in New Jersey; (2) pass a subject-matter test to receive the out-of-state endorsement or pass the appropriate New Jersey subject matter test; and (3) pass a performance assessment that is approved by the state in which the certificate was issued, with limited exceptions. Out-of-state candidates for a CEAS who were not required to pass a state-approved performance assessment as part of their educator preparation program are to be issued a CE rather than a CEAS.

Under the Alternate Route Interstate Reciprocity Pilot Program, which is a five-year pilot program, in order for an individual to receive an instructional CE the individual is required to (1) enroll in a CE educator preparation program that participates in the pilot program; (2) hold an equivalent, valid CE or provisional instructional certificate issued by another state; (3) pass a subject-matter test to receive an out-of-state endorsement or the appropriate New Jersey subject-matter test; (3) have at least one year of effective teaching experience as documented by a letter from the candidate’s former supervisor, principal, or employing school district’s human resource officer; and (5) demonstrate good standing during previous teaching experience under an out-of-state certificate.

In order to be eligible for a CE or CEAS under the provisions of the bill, an individual is required to: (1) hold a valid and current CE or a CEAS, as applicable, or its equivalent and currently-issued New Jersey grade level or subject endorsement; (2) have held employment as a public school teacher in the state in which the teacher holds the applicable certificate during one of the last two school years; (3) submit an application to the State Board of Examiners that includes two letters of recommendation; (4) pass a criminal history record check; (5) comply with New Jersey’s residency requirement for certain public employees, and (6) any other requirement the State Board of Education deems necessary.

The bill also prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring a person eligible for a CE or a CEAS pursuant to the bill to complete a performance-based assessment or test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills as a condition of eligibility for a certificate.