SENATE, No. 1498

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 13, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires candidates for certain teaching certificates to pass written test on foundations of teaching reading and diagnosing reading difficulties.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning 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.     Effective January 1, 2021, in addition to any other requirements set forth by the State Board of Education, a candidate for an instructional certificate with a preschool through grade three endorsement, an instructional certificate with an elementary school endorsement, or an educational services certificate with a reading specialist endorsement shall pass a written test which includes, at a minimum, the following topics: the foundations of teaching reading; the basic rules of phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics of the English language; the diagnosis of reading difficulties; the development of reading comprehension; and reading assessment.

     b.  The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to effectuate the provisions of this act, including any regulations specifying additional topics deemed appropriate for inclusion on the written test required pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would require, effective January 1, 2021, that candidates for a preschool through grade three endorsement, an elementary school endorsement, or a reading specialist endorsement, pass a written test which includes, at a minimum, the following topics: the foundations of teaching reading; the basic rules of phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics of the English language; the diagnosis of reading difficulties; the development of reading comprehension; and reading assessment.  This written test requirement would be in addition to any other requirements established by the State Board of Education for receipt of these endorsements.