Today Pamela Lampitt, Chair of the New Jersey Assembly Education Committee, will introduce a package of nine bills that intend to address the state’s teacher shortage, a rare instance of the Murphy Administration and the Legislature taking concrete action that could  help bolster the pipeline of educators, particularly in hard-to-fill slots like STEM and special education. Primarily the bills eliminate unnecessary barriers for aspiring teachers, like requiring a certain GPA in college (Dr. Bob Goodman: “It’s like if you had a 2.9 GPA you’re as prevented from becoming a teacher as if you committed a felony!”) and expand alternate route programs.

Here are the bill proposals currently being introduced in Committee:

• Bill A2227: Provides gross income tax deduction to eligible educators for expense of classroom supplies.
• Bill A5378: Requires Commissioner of Education to establish matching grant program for certain school districts and schools using federal funds to increase instructional time and accelerate learning.
• Bill A5416: Requires State Board of Education to authorize alternate route to expedite teacher certification of persons employed as paraprofessionals in school districts.
• Bill A5417: Prohibits limiting number of county college credits that may be applied towards educator preparation program and teacher certification requirements.
• Bill A5418: Establishes Teacher Certification Reimbursement Fund in DOE to reimburse certain teachers for costs associated with certification.
• Bill A5419: Removes obstacles to teacher certification for certain teachers.
• Bill 5420: Establishes New Jersey Student Educator Stipend Program.
• Bill A5421: Directs State Board of Education to authorize issuance of new endorsements in certain fields.
• Bill A5422: Permits teacher, and professional staff member who provides special services, who retired from TPAF to return to employment for up to two years without reenrollment in TPAF if employment commences during the 2023-2024 school year.