SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 896

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  MARCH 7, 2022

 

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 896 with committee amendments.

     As amended, this bill provides that the State Board of Education is prohibited from requiring a candidate for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing (CEAS) or a certificate of eligibility (CE) to complete a Commissioner of Education approved performance-based assessment in order to be eligible for CEAS or CE certification.  This bill requires that CEAS and CE candidates complete a performance-based assessment approved by an educator preparation program.  An educator preparation program performance-based assessment will meet requirements set by the Commissioner of Education.  Additionally, the bill prohibits a CEAS educator preparation program, or a CE educator preparation program, from considering whether a candidate for a CEAS or a CE has completed a Commissioner of Education approved performance-based assessment when making a determination as to whether to recommend a candidate for CEAS or CE certification.

     Under current State Board of Education regulations, all CEAS and CE candidates must pass a Commissioner of Education approved performance-based assessment, currently the edTPA.

 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

·         expand the bill to teachers completing their certificate of eligibility; and

·        require that CEAS and CE candidates complete a performance-based assessment approved by an educator preparation program.  An educator preparation program assessment will meet requirements set by the Commissioner of Education.