18A:6-136 Definitions relative to a teaching pilot program; recruitment; report.

1. a. As used in this section:

"Underperforming school" means any public school that meets the criteria of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2):

(1) among all students in that school to whom a State assessment was administered, the sum of the percent of students scoring in the not yet meeting expectations and partially meeting expectations categories in both the language arts and mathematics subject areas of the State assessments exceeded 40% in each of the prior two school years; or

(2) among all students in that school to whom a State assessment was administered, the sum of the percent of students scoring in the not yet meeting expectations and partially meeting expectations categories in either the language arts or mathematics subject areas of the State assessment exceeded 65% in each of the prior two school years. "Minority" means a person who is a member of a racial-ethnic group that has been historically disadvantaged in obtaining access to equal educational opportunities.

"Eligible participant" means a male resident of New Jersey who is from a disadvantaged or minority background; is interested in pursuing a career as a teacher in New Jersey; and meets eligibility criteria for enrolling in the alternate route teacher preparation program, including the requirements for obtaining a certificate of eligibility under State Board of Education regulations.

b. The Commissioner of Education shall establish a pilot program in which the commissioner will recruit eligible participants and match them to teaching opportunities for which they may apply in underperforming schools under the alternate route teacher preparation program. The purpose of the pilot program shall be to increase the access of disadvantaged or minority men to teaching opportunities and to provide needed high-quality teachers in underperforming schools in the State.

c. The commissioner shall select for participation in the pilot program six underperforming schools, including, if possible, two schools in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State. To the extent possible, the commissioner shall seek a cross section of schools from urban, suburban, and rural areas.

d. The commissioner shall establish policies and procedures for the recruitment and selection of eligible participants, and for matching the selected eligible participants to teaching opportunities for which they may apply at the participating schools under the alternate route teacher preparation program.

e. Two years following the establishment of the pilot program, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1). The report shall contain information on the implementation of the pilot program and shall include the commissioner's recommendation on the advisability of continuing or expanding the program.

L.2019, c.102.