Bill opening state teaching certification to some nontraditional educators passes Assembly committee
To address New Jersey’s ongoing critical teacher shortage, the state should create a certification route for educators holding a Montessori teaching credential, says Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis.
Her bill (A4689), released from the Assembly Appropriations Committee Thursday, would require the state Board of Examiners to establish a certification program for candidates holding a Montessori teaching credential without having completed a state-approved educator preparation program. Those teachers must still hold an accredited bachelor’s degree and pass any state-mandated tests to obtain their certificate of eligibility.
“New Jersey has consistently ranked as having the top K-12 schools in the nation, and we have our highly qualified teachers to thank for that,” Matsikoudis (R-Union) said. “To stay on top, we need to ensure we’re attracting the best teachers. We can do that by eliminating red tape while still maintaining our rigorous standards. Montessori schools, like Diamond Hill Montessori School in Berkeley Heights, provide each and every student with a personalized and nurturing academic environment, and we should be doing everything we can to empower them to hire qualified educators in our state.”
The Montessori method, developed in the late 1800s by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori, focuses on children learning through play, hands-on and self-directed activities. Teachers in this method obtain age-specific credentials through the American Montessori Society, the Association of Montessori International, or colleges and universities that offer programs accredited through the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. There are more than 3,000 Montessori schools in the country.
New Jersey already offers an alternative route program for those with a bachelor’s degree who have not completed a formal teacher preparation program but have 30 credits – 12 of which must be at junior, senior or graduate level – in a specific subject area. Aspiring teachers with an associate degree and 4,000 hours experience, four years experience equaling 8,000 hours, or military veterans holding a military discharge and verification of military experience and training certificates can also go through the alternate route program.
Candidates going through a traditional route program must complete a formal teacher preparation program at an accredited college or university before earning a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing.
Since 2007, New Jersey has experienced a precipitous drop in teacher candidates, with the state’s colleges and universities producing fewer teachers than the rest of the U.S. Of those who do complete programs, most are certified in elementary and special education while there continues to be shortages in STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. At the same time, there has been an uptick in those leaving the profession, through either retirement or career change.
According to the New Jersey Department of Education, the state lost 2,000 teachers between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, from 98,000 to 96,000.
“My legislative colleagues and I are being proactive in finding ways to address this critical shortage to ensure our students receive the best education possible to stay competitive in an increasingly global marketplace,” Matsikoudis added. “Opening our teacher certifications to educators with nontraditional but excellent credentials is a win-win for everyone.”