Bill

Bill > A2918


NJ A2918

NJ A2918
"School Children First Act"; establishes factors for determining compensation; requires principal consent for teacher placement; eliminates certain seniority rights.


summary

Introduced
02/20/2020
In Committee
02/20/2020
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/11/2022

Introduced Session

2020-2021 Regular Session

Bill Summary

The bill requires school districts to adopt a salary schedule or compensation policy for all teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals that is consistent with regulations promulgated in accordance with the provisions of the bill. The regulations will establish the individual's annual evaluation, assignment to a failing school, and teaching in a difficult to staff subject area as the primary factors that determine an individual's compensation, and years of experience cannot be a primary determinant of an individual's compensation. A district would only be allowed to provide additional compensation for education attainment if the commissioner has determined that the additional education will have a positive effect on student achievement and the teaching staff member is teaching or practicing in the subject area in which the additional academic credit or degree was attained. The bill stipulates that a teacher will not be assigned to the instructional staff of a school without the consent of the principal of the school. If a principal does not consent to the assignment of a teacher who is under tenure, the teacher may continue to receive compensation as the teacher and district seek to identify a principal who will consent to the placement. If such as placement is not found after 12 months, the teacher may be placed on permanent unpaid leave. The bill also requires that, in the case of a teacher, principal, assistant principal, or vice-principal, any dismissals resulting from a reduction in force must be made on the basis of effectiveness as determined by the evaluation system established under P.L.2012, c.26, rather than based on seniority. Last, the bill requires school districts to report the number of teachers in each school who received a rating of ineffective, partially effective, effective, and highly effective on the annual summative evaluation. The Commissioner of Education will provide a similar report for teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals in each school district.

AI Summary

This bill, titled the "School Children First Act", establishes new factors for determining teacher, principal, assistant principal, and vice-principal compensation, requires principal consent for teacher placement, and eliminates certain seniority rights for those positions. Specifically, the bill: - Requires school districts to adopt a salary schedule or compensation policy where an individual's salary is primarily determined by their demonstrated effectiveness in advancing student learning, assignment to a failing school, and teaching in a subject area designated as difficult to staff. Years of experience cannot be a primary determinant of compensation. - Prohibits additional compensation for academic credits or degrees unless the Commissioner determines they will have a positive effect on student achievement and the staff member is teaching in that subject area. - Stipulates that a teacher cannot be assigned to a school without the principal's consent, and if a principal does not consent, the teacher may continue receiving compensation while the district seeks an alternative placement, but may be placed on unpaid leave if a placement is not found within 12 months. - Requires dismissals for teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals due to reductions in force to be based on effectiveness rather than seniority. The bill also includes provisions related to reporting evaluation ratings and the Commissioner's authority to quickly adopt regulations to implement the law.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 02/20/2020)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...