Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires preparation programs for teachers and school counselors to include coursework to support improved student career readiness.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning teacher and school counselor preparation programs 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. Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, a regionally-accredited institution of higher education offering a teacher preparation program for a New Jersey instructional certificate shall incorporate coursework to support improved student career readiness. The coursework to support improved student career readiness shall include, but need not be limited to, employability skills, career awareness, and understanding career and technical education.
b. Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, the preparation program for any person seeking an instructional certificate through the State's alternate route program shall include coursework to support improved student career readiness. The coursework to support improved student career readiness shall include, but need not be limited to, employability skills, career awareness, and understanding career and technical education.
2. Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, in order to be eligible for the standard educational services certificate with a school counselor endorsement, a candidate shall satisfactorily complete coursework to support improved student career readiness. The coursework to support improved student career readiness shall include, but need not be limited to, employability skills, career awareness, and understanding career and technical education.
3. 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 act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires regionally-accredited institutions of higher education that offer teacher preparation programs for a New Jersey instructional certificate to incorporate coursework to support improved student career readiness into the program's curriculum. The bill also requires that preparation programs for an instructional certificate through the State's alternate route program include coursework to support improved student career readiness. Under the bill, the coursework to support improved student career readiness must include, but need not be limited to, coursework in employability skills, career awareness, and understanding career and technical education.
In addition, the bill requires that candidates for a standard educational services certificate with a school counselor endorsement complete coursework to support improved student career readiness, including coursework in employability skills, career awareness, and understanding career and technical education.