Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Limits amount of time a vacant teaching position can be filled by certain teachers employed in a temporary capacity.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning vacant teaching positions and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A vacant teaching position shall not be filled in any school year by one or more individuals employed as substitute teachers and holding a certificate of eligibility or a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing issued by the State Board of Examiners and working in an area authorized by their credentials for a total amount of time exceeding 60 school days. The executive county superintendent of schools may grant an extension upon written application from the school district demonstrating the district's inability to hire an appropriately certified teacher for the vacant position within the original 60-day time limit.
b. In the event that one individual employed pursuant to subsection a. of this section is employed in the same position for more than 60 days, he shall be compensated by the school district on a pro-rata basis consistent with the salary provided to a teacher with similar credentials in the employing district.
2. A vacant teaching position shall not be filled in any school year by one or more individuals employed as substitute teachers and holding a certificate of eligibility or a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing issued by the State Board of Examiners and working in an area not authorized by their credentials for a total amount of time exceeding 20 school days. The executive county superintendent of schools may grant an extension of up to an additional 20 days upon written application from the school district demonstrating the district's inability to hire an appropriately certified teacher for the vacant position within the original 20-day time limit.
3. A vacant teaching position shall not be filled in any school year by one or more individuals employed as substitute teachers and holding a standard instructional certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners and working in an area not authorized by their credentials for a total amount of time exceeding 40 school days.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Under a current State Board of Education regulation, an individual holding a certificate of eligibility or a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing may serve as a substitute teacher in his authorized subject area for a maximum of 60 school days in the same position in one school district. This bill provides that a vacant teaching position cannot be filled in any school year by one or more individuals employed as substitute teachers and holding a certificate of eligibility or a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing issued by the State Board of Examiners and working in an area authorized by their credentials for a total amount of time exceeding 60 school days. However, the bill provides that the executive county superintendent of schools may grant an extension upon written application from the school district demonstrating the district's inability to hire an appropriately certified teacher for the vacant position within the original 60-day time limit. The bill further provides that in the event an individual is approved by the executive county superintendent to remain in the position beyond 60 school days, he must be compensated by the school district on a pro-rata basis consistent with the salary provided to a teacher with similar credentials in the employing district.
The bill provides that an individual holding a certificate of eligibility or a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing can serve as a substitute teacher and fill a vacant teaching position outside of his subject area for 20 school days and may serve in that position for an additional 20 school days upon approval from the executive county superintendent. The bill also provides that an individual holding a standard instructional certificate can serve as a substitute teacher and fill a vacant teaching position outside of his subject area for a maximum of 40 school days. These provisions are similar, but not identical, to current State Board of Education regulations.