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A1811
ASSEMBLY, No. 1811
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
���� Establishes emergency teacher certificate in certain
circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.
��
An Act
concerning emergency teacher certification and
supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a.� Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a chief school
administrator, or a designee, 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, or a designee, can demonstrate the
inability to locate a suitable certified candidate due to unforeseen shortages
or other extenuating circumstances. The executive county superintendent may
approve the application if it is determined that there are no suitable
certified candidates to fill the position.
���� b.��� To be eligible to
receive an emergency instructional certificate pursuant to subsection a. of
this section, a teaching candidate shall, at a minimum:
���� (1)�� be enrolled in an
educator preparation program at a regionally accredited four-year institution
of higher education in the State;
���� (2)�� have a bachelor�s
degree; and
���� (3)�� have achieved a passing
score on any applicable subject matter knowledge exams.
���� c.���� The certificate shall
be renewable annually up to a maximum of two times at the request of the chief
school administrator and approval of the executive county superintendent.
Renewal shall be predicated upon demonstration of progress toward successful completion
of coursework and tests required for the issuance of a certificate of
eligibility, certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, or a standard
certificate. A candidate serving under an emergency instructional certificate
shall be employed under emergency certification for no more than a total of
three years in any one high-need field regardless of the number of school
districts in which the candidate serves.
���� d.��� The Department of
Education shall publish on its internet website a list of the high-need fields
eligible to receive an emergency instructional certificate pursuant to
subsection a. of this section. The State Board of Education shall annually
reevaluate the list of high-need fields eligible to receive an emergency
instructional certificate pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
���� 2.��� a.� An emergency
instructional certificate issued pursuant to this act shall be valid for
employment only in the school district requesting the emergency instructional
certificate.
���� b.��� A board of education may
employ a teacher candidate who has been issued an emergency instructional
certificate pursuant to this act in a full-time or part-time teaching position.
���� c.���� No more than 10 percent
of a board of education�s teaching staff shall be employed with an emergency
instructional certificate issued pursuant to this act.
���� 3.��� The State Board of
Education shall adopt, pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,�
P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), any rules and regulations necessary for
the implementation of this act.
���� 4.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year next
following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
���� 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.