Bill > A2886

Introduced Session

This bill establishes an emergency instructional certificate for teacher candidates in high-need fields. Under the bill, a chief school administrator may apply to the executive county superintendent for an emergency instructional certificate for a candidate in a high-need field including, but not limited to, bilingual/bicultural education and special education if the chief school administrator can demonstrate the inability to locate a suitable certified candidate. To be eligible to receive an emergency instructional certificate, a teaching candidate is required to be enrolled in an educator preparation program, have a bachelor's degree, and have achieved a passing score on any applicable subject matter knowledge exams. Upon the request of a chief school administrator and approval of the executive county superintendent, an emergency instructional certificate may be renewed up to a maximum of two times. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Education to publish a list of the high-need fields eligible to receive an emergency instructional certificate on its internet website and requires the State Board of Education to annually reevaluate the high-need fields that are eligible for an emergency instructional certificate. The bill also stipulates that a teacher candidate who has been issued an emergency instructional certificate may be employed in a full-time or part-time teaching position. Finally, the bill stipulates that no more than 10 percent of a board of education's teaching staff may be certified under an emergency instructional certificate.

Committee Categories

Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D)*,  Anthony Verrelli (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document