Articles Tagged with “New Jersey teachers”

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skills-835747_960_720In New Jersey, obtaining a teaching certificate is a difficult task, requiring a great deal of credentials.  For the individuals who are issued a teaching certificate, it is a testament to the individual’s dedication, commitment, and passion for teaching.  Therefore, if your certificate is at risk of being revoked or suspended, it is important to know your rights and whether to challenge such a determination.

The State Board of Examiners may revoke, suspend or deny a teacher’s certificate for many grounds set forth in the New Jersey Department of Education’s regulations in the New Jersey Administrative Code, N.J.A.C.§6A:9B-4.4.  One of the grounds that the State Board of Examiners may revoke, suspend or deny a teaching certificate is on the basis of “conduct unbecoming a teacher.”  Like many legal terms, “conduct unbecoming a teacher” is inherently  broad and encompasses a wide variety of teacher activity.  Due to its broad nature, a look into how courts have defined and analyzed “conduct unbecoming a teacher” is important if your certificate is being revoked, suspended or denied to determine whether to appeal the revocation or suspension.

Courts have defined “conduct unbecoming a teacher” in multiple ways including :

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pre-1272291__180New Jersey’s employment laws governing the rights and responsibilities of New Jersey teachers are found in Title 18A of New Jersey Statutes. The laws are complex, but our employment attorneys have significant experience in representing New Jersey teachers in this complex area.  Indeed, Maurice McLaughlin wrote the seminal treatise on the rights of public school teachers under New Jersey employment law.  This blog briefly summarizes untenured teachers’ rights.

Status of Non-Tenured Teachers

New Jersey is an “employment at will” state.  This means that normally an employee can be fired for any reason –even mistaken reasons – so long as the motivation is not illegal.  New Jersey’s tenure protection laws provide strong protections from the harshness of employment at will, but until teachers acquire tenure they have few protections against termination, even without cause.

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knowledge-1052011__180New Jersey’s Department of Education has issued regulations which govern “controversies and disputes” with public employees such teachers and principals.  The “controversies and disputes” cover a wide variety of issues including but not limited to the State Board of Examiner’s (“Board’s”) decision to block, revoke, or suspend a teacher’s certificate.

If you are faced with such a controversy or dispute or have been adversely affected by a  decision from the Board or other agency, these regulations provide a legal right to challenge the decision through a petition of appeal.  The petition of appeal must be filed in the specific format and must be filed within the time limitations provided under N.J.A.C. §6A:3-1.3(i).  Failing to strictly comply with these requirements may prevent you from challenging the Board’s or other agency’s decision or order.

The time period to file a petition of appeal begins from the date you receive a notice of “a final order, ruling or other action” by the Board, a board of education, or other agency.  The notice of the final decision must set forth the facts that you have a right to know which the decision is based on.  However, the notice may not be clear that the decision is final or provide you with information regarding your right to file a petition of appeal.  Therefore, it is extremely important that you address any notice of a decision that affects your employment promptly and seek legal counsel regarding your rights to appeal before they are time barred.

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Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for teacher.jpgThe Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACNJ) Act was recently enacted by the New Jersey Legislature and signed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. The TEACHNJ Act creates drastic changes to the process for fighting tenure charges by New Jersey teachers and other public school “teaching staff members.” In short, the TEACHNJ Act eliminates the hearing process before the Commissioner of Education and places the decision in the hands of an arbitrator.

When a New Jersey “teaching staff member” achieves tenure, she receives protections that most other New Jersey employees do not. Tenured teaching staff members can be dismissed or reduced in compensation “during good behavior” only for “incapacity,” “inefficiency,” or “conduct unbecoming” a teaching staff member, or some other “just cause.” However, they can be laid off for budget reasons or enrollment losses at any time as long as their seniority is honored.

For the purposes of tenure, “teaching staff members” includes a wide range of employees, including: Assistant superintendents, teachers, principals (but not administrative principals), vice-principals, assistant principals, school nurses, athletic trainers, business administrators shared by more than one school district, and other employees requiring appropriate certificates.

Left unchanged are the initial procedures. Tenure charges are instituted by the local board of education. They are filed in writing with the board’s secretary together with a sworn statement of evidence. The employee is promptly given a copy and the opportunity to submit a written statement in response. The board will then consider the charges in closed session and decide by majority vote if the evidence supports probable cause for the charges, and whether the charges are sufficient to warrant dismissal or reduction in salary. If so, it then forwards the charges to the Commissioner of Education. If the board does not make a determination within 45 days, the charges are dismissed.
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Thumbnail image for tenure.jpgOn August 6, 2012, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed the Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act, which had been passed by both houses of the New Jersey Legislature. The TEACHNJ Act significantly changes how New Jersey teachers and other New Jersey public school “teaching staff members” acquire tenure.

A “teaching staff member” who obtains tenure can only be dismissed or have their compensation reduced “during good behavior” for “inefficiency, incapacity, or conduct unbecoming [ ] such a teaching staff member or other just cause.” It also provides procedural safeguards before they can be fired. (However, tenure does not prevent the school district or board of education from instituting layoffs – including laying off tenured teaching staff members – for reasons of economy or reduced enrollment, provided seniority rules are followed.)

“Teaching staff members” who may receive tenure include New Jersey public school teachers, of course, but also include these positions:

principal, other than administrative principal, assistant principal, vice-principal, assistant superintendent, and all school nurses, including school nurse supervisors, head school nurses, chief school nurses, school nurse coordinators, and any other nurse performing school nursing services, school athletic trainer and such other employees as are in positions which require them to hold appropriate certificates issued by the board of examiners, serving in any school district or under any board of education, excepting those who are not the holders of proper certificates in full force and effect, and school business administrators shared by two or more school districts.

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Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for tenure male.jpgNew Jersey recently enacted the Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act. The TEACHNJ Act significantly changes the rules for the acquisition of tenure by New Jersey teachers and other New Jersey public school “teaching staff members.” The TEACHNJ Act changes the time period of service prior to acquiring tenure, sets up uniform evaluation requirements as a prerequisite to obtaining tenure, and drastically changes the process for challenging discipline against tenured teaching staff members.

Tenure for a “teaching staff member” means she can only be dismissed or reduced in compensation “during good behavior” for “inefficiency, incapacity, or conduct unbecoming such a teaching staff member or other just cause,” although tenured teaching staff members can still be laid off for economic reasons or declining enrollment provided that seniority is honored. It also provides tenured teaching staff members with procedural safeguards before they can have their compensation reduced or be fired.

Teaching staff members” for tenure purposes include:

  • Teachers
  • Principals, other than administrative principal
  • Assistant principals
  • Vice-principals
  • Assistant superintendents
  • All school nurses, including school nurse supervisors, head school nurses, chief school nurses, school nurse coordinators, and any other nurse performing school nursing services
  • School athletic trainers
  • Such other employees as are in positions which require them to hold appropriate certificates
  • School business administrators shared by two or more school districts.

Schools are required to establish a school improvement panel and mentorship program for new teachers during their first year which the teacher must complete. The panel oversees the mentorship program. It must be “research-based” and enhance teacher knowledge and strategies in the core curriculum. It must pair first year teachers with effective, experienced teachers. The board must provide teaching staff members with ongoing professional development opportunities.
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