New Jersey § 18a:6-136

§ 18a:6-136.

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.