Bill
Bill > A2249
NJ A2249
NJ A2249"School Children First Act"; establishes factors for determining compensation; requires principal consent for teacher placement; eliminates certain seniority rights.
summary
Introduced
02/01/2018
02/01/2018
In Committee
02/01/2018
02/01/2018
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/08/2020
01/08/2020
Introduced Session
2018-2019 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, known as the "School Children First Act", makes several key changes to teacher compensation and employment practices in New Jersey school districts:
1. It 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 in advancing student learning, their assignment to a failing school, and their teaching in a difficult-to-staff subject area. Years of experience cannot be the primary determinant of compensation.
2. It prohibits districts from providing additional compensation for educational credits or degrees unless the Commissioner determines they will have a positive effect on student achievement and the educator is teaching in that subject area.
3. It allows a principal to refuse the assignment of a tenured teacher to their school, in which case the teacher may receive salary and benefits while the district searches for an alternative placement, but could be placed on permanent unpaid leave if a placement is not found within 12 months.
4. It requires dismissals due to reductions in force for teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals to be based on effectiveness rather than seniority.
5. It makes several other changes to tenure and seniority rights, particularly for non-teaching positions, when school districts are divided or consolidated.
Overall, the bill aims to shift the focus of teacher compensation and employment decisions towards student achievement and effectiveness, rather than primarily on seniority and length of service.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 02/01/2018)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| BillText | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/A2500/2249_I1.HTM |
| Bill | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/A2500/2249_I1.PDF |
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