Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DOE to compile list of professional development programs on virtual and remote instruction; requires public school teachers and school leaders to complete professional development program on virtual and remote instruction.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning professional development and remote instruction and supplementing chapter 6 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, “school leader” means a school district staff member who holds a position that requires the possession of a chief school administrator, principal, or supervisor endorsement.
b. The Department of Education shall compile a list of professional development programs for teachers and school leaders on the topic of virtual and remote instruction. The department shall make the list available on its Internet website within 30 days of the effective date of this act.
c. A school district shall ensure that the district’s teachers and school leaders complete a professional development program on the topic of virtual and remote instruction from the list developed by the department pursuant to subsection b. of this section within 60 days following publication of the list on the department’s Internet website.
d. Upon application, a school district may be granted a waiver of the requirement to use one of the professional development programs that have been compiled by the department, if the school district demonstrates to the department’s satisfaction that it is using, or has used, a comparable professional development program.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Department of Education (DOE) to compile a list of professional development programs for teachers and school leaders on the topic of virtual and remote instruction. The DOE will make the list available on its Internet website within 30 days of enactment of this bill.
Under the bill, school districts will be required to ensure that their teachers and school leaders complete one of the professional development programs on the list compiled by the DOE within 60 days following the publication of the list on the DOE’s Internet website. The bill allows a district to receive a waiver from the DOE to use a professional development program other than one of the DOE’s selections, provided that the district can demonstrate that it is a comparable program.