This bill encourages New Jersey public school teachers to obtain and maintain certification in emergency first aid, CPR, and automated external defibrillator (AED) use. It requires school districts to promote these certifications, provide training opportunities (both in-person and online), and recognize certified teachers by issuing certificates of commendation and posting their names on district websites. Certified teachers may also earn eight hours toward annual professional development requirements. The policy is voluntary and focuses on incentivizing teacher training to improve immediate response to medical emergencies in schools, such as cardiac arrests or injuries.
This New Jersey bill (A 3343) requires all teacher certification candidates who complete an approved educator preparation program to complete a mandatory anti-racism training course starting with the 2022-2023 school year. It also requires alternate route certification seekers to complete the training within one year of being hired. The training must cover recognizing diversity's role in teaching, developing racial literacy, examining personal biases, and understanding how race affects school decisions like grading and discipline. Educator programs must update their curricula to include this training and share syllabi and required texts online, though the state does not approve these materials. The bill directly affects all new teachers seeking certification in New Jersey.
This bill (A 773) speeds up the processing of teaching certification applications in New Jersey. It requires the State Board of Examiners to issue or deny certification within one week of receiving a request, provided the applicant's completed application has been on file for at least four weeks and the request is submitted during the two weeks before Labor Day each school year. The bill directly affects teaching applicants who meet these specific timing criteria. It changes the current process by establishing a strict one-week deadline for decisions under these conditions, rather than allowing longer review periods. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill creates a temporary five-year teaching certification program for veterans in New Jersey. It allows veterans who have completed at least four years of honorable military service, earned 60 college credits, and passed subject-matter exams to receive a temporary certificate while enrolled in an approved educator preparation program at a New Jersey university. School districts can hire these veterans full- or part-time, and their teaching experience counts toward their program's clinical practice requirement. The program applies to veterans honorably discharged from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve components.
New Jersey bill A2564 requires all teaching certification candidates - both new graduates from approved educator programs and out-of-state teachers - to complete youth mental health education training by the 2027-2028 school year. This includes either a course or a state-developed online module covering youth mental health risks, creating safe classroom environments, and cultural competence. Approved educator programs must update their curricula to include this requirement and submit revisions to the Department of Education. Candidates with comparable training completed within the past five years may apply for an exemption. The bill applies directly to educators seeking or holding teaching certifications in New Jersey.
This bill allows New Jersey municipalities to earn extra credit toward their affordable housing requirements by reserving units for low- or moderate-income teachers. Specifically, each housing unit reserved for a teacher household earns one full credit plus half a bonus credit. The bill defines "teacher" broadly as anyone employed to teach pre-K through 12th grade in public or private schools. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill allows retired teachers who left the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to return to public school teaching for up to two years without rejoining the pension fund. School boards must prove they searched for other candidates and that the retired teacher is the only qualified person, and the teacher’s salary must be 40-70% of the median teacher pay in that district. Retired teachers rehired under this bill receive a 50% tax deduction on their rehired salary, with the remaining income taxed at a flat 1.4% rate (instead of standard rates), provided the retirement was genuine and not prearranged. The bill explicitly prohibits tenure or seniority rights during this reemployment period.
This bill exempts certain public school teachers from New Jersey's requirement to live in the state by allowing school districts to hire teachers who don't reside in New Jersey for up to two years. School districts must prove they advertised the position for six months, made good-faith efforts to hire a New Jersey-resident teacher, and that the candidate is properly certified. A five-member committee reviews exemption requests, and teachers hired under this exemption must establish New Jersey residency within two years or face termination. Failure to meet residency requires the district to re-advertise the position and hire a New Jersey-resident teacher.
This bill requires New Jersey public school districts with grades 9-12 to include lessons on compulsive gambling risks within their required health education curriculum. The instruction must cover gambling addiction dangers, financial risks, and probability concepts. The state education commissioner will provide sample lesson materials and develop teacher training on identifying gambling issues and treatment resources. Implementation begins the school year after the next state curriculum review, not immediately.
This bill requires New Jersey's State Board of Education to create a new "Teacher of the Blind or Visually Impaired Kindergarten through Grade 12" endorsement for instructional certificates. It directly affects educators seeking to teach blind or visually impaired students in public schools, allowing them to hold this specialized endorsement without needing additional subject or grade-level endorsements. To qualify, candidates must complete a state-approved training program for this specialty. The bill addresses a current gap where teachers needed multiple endorsements, aiming to help schools hire qualified specialists amid a nationwide shortage of such educators.
