Bill Text: NJ A2892 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Allows certain military spouses with out-of-State teaching license to receive temporary instructional certificate in New Jersey.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-6)
Status: (Passed) 2013-06-13 - Approved P.L.2013, c.68. [A2892 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A2892-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Moriarty
SYNOPSIS
Allows certain military spouses with out-of-State teaching license to receive temporary instructional certificate in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning teacher certification for military spouses 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. As used in this section, "nonresident military spouse" means a person (1) whose spouse is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is the subject of a military transfer to New Jersey, and (2) who has left employment in another state to accompany such spouse to New Jersey.
b. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall establish a procedure for the issuance of a temporary instructional certificate to a nonresident military spouse that authorizes a board of education to employ the nonresident military spouse as a teacher if, at the time of application, the nonresident military spouse:
(1) Holds a valid and current license or certificate to teach issued by another state for which there is an equivalent and currently-issued New Jersey grade level or subject endorsement;
(2) Demonstrates competency in teaching in a manner determined by the State Board of Examiners, such as having taught successfully under the out-of-State license or certificate for at least two years or having completed continuing education units; and
(3) Pays any applicable fees required by the State Board of Examiners.
c. A temporary instructional certificate issued under this section shall be valid for 180 days and may be extended at the discretion of the State Board of Examiners for another 180 days on application of the holder of the temporary instructional certificate. The temporary instructional certificate shall authorize the nonresident military spouse to be employed as a teacher by a board of education on a temporary basis while completing any specific additional requirements for an instructional certificate in New Jersey that were not required in the other state in which the nonresident military spouse holds a license or certificate to teach.
d. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a nonresident military spouse from obtaining a New Jersey certificate of eligibility, certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, or standard certificate under State Board of Education regulations, including the regulation for interstate reciprocity.
e. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the State Board of Education to establish a procedure for the issuance of a temporary instructional certificate to a nonresident military spouse that authorizes a board of education to employ that individual as a teacher if the nonresident military spouse: holds a valid and current license or certificate to teach issued by another state for which there is an equivalent and currently-issued New Jersey grade level or subject endorsement; and demonstrates competency in teaching such as having taught successfully for at least two years or having completed continuing education units. The bill defines "nonresident military spouse" as a person whose spouse is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is the subject of a military transfer to New Jersey, and who has left employment in another state to accompany such spouse to New Jersey. A temporary instructional certificate would be valid for 180 days and may be extended for another 180 days at the discretion of the State Board of Examiners. The temporary instructional certificate would allow the nonresident military spouse to be employed as a teacher on a temporary basis while completing any specific additional requirements for an instructional certificate in New Jersey that were not required in the other state in which the nonresident military spouse holds a license or certificate to teach.
Military families make many sacrifices in service to our country, including frequent deployments and relocations. Moving from state to state can be a disruptive barrier to a military spouse's employment, particularly when his or her field requires a state-specific professional license. A February 2012 report by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Defense, "Supporting our Military Families: Best Practices for Streamlining Occupational Licensing Across State Lines," found that one in three military spouses works in a field that requires a license, with teaching being the most common occupation. This bill would help alleviate the difficulties that military spouses who are teachers face in maintaining employment due to their frequent mobility by allowing military spouses with a valid out-of-State license to teach in New Jersey while completing any additional requirements for New Jersey teacher certification.
