NJ union wants to get rid of ‘basic skills’ requirement for new teachers: ‘Deeply concerning’ – KATV

TRENTON, N.J. (CITC) — A New Jersey teachers union is looking to cut corners for aspiring educators, arguing that the state has placed “unnecessary” barriers to entering the profession.

The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) is calling for the state to end its basic skills test requirement for teachers. Teacher candidates in New Jersey currently must prove proficiency in reading, writing and math prior to becoming certified, either by passing a state exam or submitting graduate test scores.

NJEA believes the requirement is an “unnecessary barrier” to becoming a teacher, arguing eliminating it would help alleviate New Jersey’s teacher shortage. However, critics fear doing so would worsen an already worrisome trend.

“It fits perfectly with the theme we’ve seen nationwide of teachers’ unions fighting to drive down standards at every level,” Angela Morabito, a spokesperson for the Defense of Freedom Institute and former press secretary for the U.S. Department of Education, told Crisis in the Classroom (CITC). “It’s bad enough when they’re trying to get rid of standardized testing for their students — it’s extra terrible when they’re trying to get rid of the standards for themselves.”

Morabito finds it “deeply concerning” that a teachers union is looking to make it easier to enter the profession, arguing that students recovering from pandemic learning losses deserve better.

If a teacher doesn’t have those reading, writing or math skills, there’s no way he or she is going to be able to instill those same skills in the next generation,” she told CITC. “So, I would question what’s going on in those New Jersey teacher prep programs that so many people apparently are not able to pass the test that the union feels taking this step is necessary.”

READ MORE | Many teachers not equipped to teach elementary schoolers how to read, report says

A June study of nearly 700 teacher preparation programs nationwide found that most elementary school teachers are graduating ill-equipped to teach students how to read. Only 25% of prep programs nationwide cover all five components of scientifically based reading, while an additional 25% fail to adequately cover just one of the components.

In its report card last year, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress revealed that reading scores have plummeted for both fourth and eighth-graders since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The average reading score for both grades fell three points from 2019, with both suburban and urban school districts seeing significant declines.

NJEA’s calls to ease teacher requirements come as federal officials advocate for higher teacher pay. Both President Joe Biden and U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona say public school teachers are overdue for pay raises despite the average salary for educators consistently rising over the last four decades.

READ MORE | Biden calls for teacher raises despite 43-year-long increase, plummeting student performance

CITC reached out to NJEA for comment, but did not immediately receive a response. This story will be updated if a response is received.

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