SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3883

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 27, 2023

     The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 3883 with committee amendments.

As amended, this bill requires the State Board of Education to authorize an alternate route to expedite the teacher certification of persons who are employed or have been employed by a school district as a paraprofessional or an instructional assistant.

     The amended bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop recommendations for the alternate route and those recommendations are required to be submitted to the State board.  Under the provisions of the amended bill, in developing the recommendations, the commissioner is to consult with representatives of the education community, including the New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association, and the State Professional Learning Committee.

     Also, as amended, the bill provides that in addition to any other requirements established by the State Board of Education, the alternate route program is required to include:

     (1) a formula for applying a candidate’s direct classroom service to any student teaching requirements, provided that the candidate is currently employed by a school district and is providing direct classroom service, including tutoring.  Under the formula, the direct classroom service is to earn the candidate full credit, if appropriate;

     (2)  a requirement that the school district in which the candidate is currently employed make every reasonable effort to permit the candidate to perform any required student teaching in the school district while, if possible, continuing employment as a paraprofessional or an instructional assistant; and

     (3) a formula to allow a grade point average waiver for candidates who otherwise demonstrate qualification for the expedited teacher certification.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Senate Bill No. 3883 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 5416 (1R), which was also amended and reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

· include the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association as one of the representatives of the education community that the Commissioner of Education is to consult when developing the recommendations that are required under the bill; and

· require the school district make every reasonable effort to permit the candidate to perform any required student teaching in the school district where the candidate is currently employed.