Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JIM WHELAN
District 2 (Atlantic)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman JOAN M. VOSS
District 38 (Bergen)
Assemblyman JOSEPH J. ROBERTS, JR.
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Schaer, Mayer, Assemblywoman Greenstein, Assemblymen McKeon, Epps, Assemblywoman Quigley, Assemblymen Gordon, Manzo, Munoz, Scalera, Greenwald, Assemblywoman Cruz-Perez and Assemblyman Vas
SYNOPSIS
Requires candidates for teaching certificates and current teachers to receive instruction in autism awareness and methods of teaching students with autism.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning required instruction for teachers 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. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, a candidate for a New Jersey instructional certificate shall satisfactorily complete instruction in autism awareness and methods of teaching students with autism at an accredited institution of higher education.
b. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, a person seeking certification through the alternate route shall, within one year of being employed, satisfactorily complete instruction in autism awareness and methods of teaching students with autism at an accredited institution of higher education.
c. All teachers not subject to the provisions of subsection a. or b. of this section shall be required to pursue instruction in autism awareness and methods of teaching students with autism by the 2009-2010 school year as part of the professional development requirement established by the State Board of Education for teaching staff members.
2. The Commissioner of Education shall develop recommendations for autism awareness instruction and methods of teaching students with autism for all teacher preparation and professional development programs and shall submit the recommendations to the State Board of Education. In developing the recommendations, the commissioner shall consult with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services and representatives from agencies established to promote autism awareness and provide programs and services to people with autism, including, but not limited to Autism Speaks, the Autism Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and the New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community.
3. The State Board of Education, based upon the recommendations developed by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to section 2 of this act, shall promulgate regulations pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to determine the number of credit hours necessary to satisfy the instructional requirements provided for in section 1 of this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires candidates for teaching certificates and current teachers to receive instruction in autism awareness and methods of teaching students with autism. Under the bill, beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, candidates for New Jersey instructional certificates and anyone seeking certification through the alternate route will be required to satisfactorily complete the instruction at an accredited institution of higher education. A candidate seeking certification through the alternate route must satisfactorily complete the instruction within one year of being employed. Current teachers will be required to pursue such instruction by the 2009-2010 school year as part of the professional development requirement established by the State Board of Education for teaching staff members.
Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education will develop recommendations for the instruction for all teacher preparation and professional development programs and submit the recommendations to the State Board of Education. In developing the recommendations, the commissioner will consult with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services and representatives from certain agencies that promote autism awareness and provide programs and services for people with autism.
The bill also requires the State Board of Education to promulgate regulations, based upon the commissioner’s recommendations, to determine the number of credit hours necessary to satisfy any instructional requirements.