"School Children First Act"; establishes factors for determining compensation; requires principal consent for teacher placement; eliminates certain seniority rights.

The "School Children First Act" requires New Jersey school districts to obtain principal consent before placing teachers and bases teacher compensation primarily on effectiveness ratings, assignment to failing schools, and teaching in hard-to-staff subjects - replacing seniority as a main factor. It eliminates extra pay for academic degrees or credits unless directly related to the subject taught and proven to improve student outcomes. School districts must annually report teacher effectiveness ratings (without identifying individuals) on their websites and adopt new pay policies by the 2022-2023 school year. The bill directly affects teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals in New Jersey public schools.