At its Dec. 3, 2025, meeting, the State Board of Education heard updates and acted on the following items:
Professional Standards, Educator Preparation Programs, and State Board of Examiners and Certification — The State Board adopted amendments at N.J.A.C. 6A:9, Professional Standards; 6A:9A, New Jersey Educator Preparation Programs; and 6A:9B, State Board of Examiners and Certification. The amendments align Chapter 9 with recent changes in state law that eliminate roadblocks to teacher certification, enhance and improve the teacher pipeline, and ensure teachers are appropriately certified. Specifically, the amendments will: 1) eliminate the required completion of a Basic Skills test; 2) create a paraprofessional educator preparation pathway; 3) establish a computer science endorsement required for grades 9-12; 4) eliminate the performance assessment for teacher certification (edTPA); 5) adjust requirements for certain preparation programs to include credits in special education, culturally responsive teaching, and coursework on autism spectrum disorder; and 6) allow preparation programs to accept any number of credit hours from accredited county colleges toward meeting requirements for certification.
Military Science Endorsement — The State Board presented for discussion proposed amendments at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-11.8 to delete the requirement for a candidate to document 20 years of military experience to qualify for a standard instructional certificate with a military science endorsement. The amendments came as a result of a petition for rulemaking. The petitioner had requested that only the existing requirement to remain would be for a candidate to hold valid certification authorizing employment as a military science instructor from the branch of service in which the candidate served. The military science endorsement allows holders to teach military science in all public schools in New Jersey. Public testimony on these amendments will be heard at the State Board’s March 2026 meeting.
Proposed Revisions to NJSLS—The commissioner presented draft revisions to three subject areas of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS): 1) Computer Science, Innovation, and Society (formerly “Computer Science and Design Thinking”); 2) World Languages; and 3) Visual and Performing Arts. Full copies of the draft revisions are available on the state board’s website. The state board previously released a public notice regarding the draft revisions and opportunities for members of the public to provide comment. Registration to testify at the three available public hearings will open on Dec. 16, 2025, and close at noon on Jan. 8, 2026.
