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-Great Cultural Revolution
New Jersey ends basic reading and writing skills test requirement for teachers
2025-01-06
[FoxNews] The New Jersey Education Association called the test requirement a 'barrier' for educators.

Teachers in New Jersey will no longer be required to pass a basic reading, writing and mathematics test to be eligible for public schools, according to a new law.

Act 1669, which was signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy, D., in June, went into effect on Wednesday at the start of the new year. The law aims to tackle teacher shortages in the state by removing what the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), a teachers’ union, called a "barrier" to certification in 2023.

The law states, "[T]he State Board of Education shall not require a candidate seeking a certificate of eligibility, a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, a provisional certificate, or a standard instructional certificate to complete a Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills including, but not limited to, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, in order to obtain a certificate of eligibility, a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, a provisional certificate, or a standard instructional certificate."

The Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test is used by over 40 states and territories in the country and includes questions on English and mathematics as well as basic questions on specific subjects.

"We need more teachers. This is the best way to get them," Democratic state Sen. Jim Beach argued when the bill was passed.
"Sure, they're morons, but they fill a position"
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Posted by:Skidmark

#10  they likely have trouble staffing up folks in places like Newark

She'll be right at home.

High school teacher arrested for selling THC, nicotine vape cartridges to students: police
Posted by: Skidmark   2025-01-06 14:42  

#9  I don’t think the initiative will have much impact on the competence of teachers in affluent schools. I think they likely have trouble staffing up folks in places like Newark. This is authorization to just use warm bodies. The performance levels are already so low there that I can’t see there being a resulting measurable drop in tests scores.
Posted by: Super Hose   2025-01-06 14:00  

#8  This may be a good thing for New Jersey. I see it as an opportunity to increase the number of teachers AND reduce the homeless population. As a side benefit, more teachers means more political power for the teacher's union.

"But what about the kids?", you say. They weren't learning squat anyway. Only about 50% of the NJ kids are proficient in reading, 40% in math, and less than 30% in science. Not exactly fodder for the future. Unless we are talking a Soylent Green(tm) is People future.
Posted by: SteveS   2025-01-06 12:19  

#7  Tennis balls not as fun as potatoes.
Posted by: no mo uro   2025-01-06 11:26  

#6  I think they're looking more for babysitters...
Posted by: HeavyG   2025-01-06 10:29  

#5  By High School we were almost blowing stuff up.

AKA: Homework. Tennis ball cannons were the gateway drug
Posted by: Frank G   2025-01-06 10:17  

#4  Sorry to hear that, Skidmark. Back in my day we built project boards with wiring, relays, magnets, buzzers, lights and switches (using 6V batteries for power), and this was in the 8th grade.

By High School we were almost blowing stuff up.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2025-01-06 09:12  

#3  My high school Physics 'teacher' read the text book to us. Proof he could read.

I practiced electricity, with a paper clip.
Posted by: Skidmark   2025-01-06 08:04  

#2  We need more teachers

Actually, you don't. You need more union members. If you don't have those who can pass basic reading and writing skill tests then there is no longer a need for 'public' education. Start printing the vouchers for parents who actually care about their children getting an education.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2025-01-06 07:15  

#1  What did I say yesterday?
Posted by: Grom the Reflective   2025-01-06 02:35  

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