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Committee backs shorter alternate-route training for career and technical teachers
Summary
Senate Bill 4515 would reduce alternate‑route instruction hours for career and technical education (CTE) teachers, a change supporters say will ease recruitment of industry professionals into teaching; the committee released the bill after testimony from vocational administrators and teacher‑prep faculty.
Senate Bill 4515, advanced by the Senate Education Committee on June 5, would limit certain certification requirements for career and technical education teachers, effectively shortening the alternate‑route training hours required for certification.
Jackie Burke of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational and Technical Schools told the committee that a two‑year alternate‑route program with roughly 350 hours has become a major deterrent for industry professionals who might otherwise become CTE teachers. Burke and Sherry Castelli (assistant superintendent and CTE instructor) said the additional year of training adds time and cost without demonstrable gains in teacher quality, and argued returning to roughly 200 hours over one year would help recruit skilled professionals.
A parent who spoke about midyear teacher resignations asked the committee to consider emergency certification options to cover sudden vacancies, a request proponents acknowledged but did not commit to adopting in this hearing.
After questions and supportive testimony from unions and vocational organizations, the committee moved and released the bill for further consideration.
