SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2498

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 15, 2024

     The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 2498.

     This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish and maintain a common application for substitute teachers and a web portal to which a substitute teacher may submit a single common application for employment at a public school of the State.  The bill requires the common application to be made available and the web portal to be fully operational within 90 days of the bill’s effective date. 

     Under the bill, the common application and web portal will:

     (1) maximize the ability of substitute teachers to connect with public schools that have employment openings;

     (2) increase the degree of information sharing regarding employment opportunities for substitute teachers; and

     (3) maintain high standards for data privacy and security.

     The bill permits the commissioner to contract with a private vendor to effectuate the bill’s purposes.  The bill also clarifies that nothing in the bill will be construed to prohibit a prospective employer from using its own application process or web portal or from requiring additional information from applicants who apply for employment as a substitute teacher using the common application and web portal established pursuant to the provisions of the bill.