Bill Text: NJ A2888 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requires teacher preparation program for instuctional certificate to include certain amount of instruction or clinical experience in special education and for students with disabilities endorsement to include credit hours in autism spectrum disorder.**
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-11-16 - Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading [A2888 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A2888-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblyman RAJ MUKHERJI
District 33 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires teacher preparation programs for instructional certificates with teachers of students with disabilities endorsements include credit hours in autism spectrum disorder.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Women and Children Committee on June 18, 2015, with amendments.
An Act concerning special education 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. In addition to any other requirements adopted by the State Board of Education for teacher preparation programs, the State board shall require that the preparation program for an instructional certificate include a minimum of 6 semester credit hours 1or equivalent clinical experience, including student internships,1 in special education.
2. 1[a. The] In addition to any other requirements adopted by the State Board of Education for teacher preparation programs, the1 State Board of Education shall 1[develop an autism spectrum disorder endorsement that authorizes the holder to teach special education to students with autism. In addition to the content areas that the teacher's endorsements authorize, the holder of an autism spectrum disorder endorsement also may provide consultative services and supportive resource programs including modification and adaption of curriculum and instruction to students with autism in general education programs in grades preschool through 12.
b. The State board shall establish requirements for teacher preparation programs for the autism spectrum disorder endorsement] require that the preparation program for an instructional certificate with a teacher of students with disabilities endorsement shall include credit hours in autism spectrum disorder1.
1[3. A teacher holding the Students with Disabilities endorsement issued by the State Board of Education prior to the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) may continue to teach students with autism in grades preschool through 12 if the teacher can demonstrate to the school district at which the teacher is employed content knowledge appropriate to the content and the content level to be taught.]1
1[4.] 3.1 The State Board of Education shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.
1[5.] 4.1 This act shall take effect immediately.
