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Bill > A2686


NJ A2686

NJ A2686
"School Children First Act"; establishes factors for determining compensation; requires principal consent for teacher placement; eliminates certain seniority rights.


summary

Introduced
01/09/2024
In Committee
01/09/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026

Introduced Session

2024-2025 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: Requires school districts to adopt a salary schedule or compensation policy for teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals that is primarily based on their demonstrated effectiveness, assignment to failing schools, and teaching in difficult-to-staff subject areas, rather than years of experience. The bill also restricts additional compensation for academic credits or degrees unless the Commissioner of Education determines they will have a positive effect on student achievement. The bill grants principals the ability to consent or deny the assignment of a teacher to their school, and allows districts to place a teacher on unpaid leave if no placement is found within 12 months. For reductions in force, the bill requires dismissals of teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals to be based on effectiveness rather than seniority. The bill also requires districts and the Commissioner of Education to report the performance ratings of teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals in each school.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

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

bill text


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