{"id":2102503,"date":"2023-11-17T23:05:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-18T04:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-jersey-teachers-union-calls-for-end-of-basic-skills-test-for-teachers\/"},"modified":"2023-11-17T23:09:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T04:09:17","slug":"new-jersey-teachers-union-calls-for-end-of-basic-skills-test-for-teachers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-jersey-teachers-union-calls-for-end-of-basic-skills-test-for-teachers\/","title":{"rendered":"New Jersey Teachers Union Calls For End Of Basic Skills Test For Teachers"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-jersey-teachers-union-calls-for-end-of-basic-skills-test-for-teachers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2102503&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>New Jersey Teachers Union Calls for Elimination of Basic Skills Test<\/h2>\n<p>The New Jersey Education \u200bAssociation (NJEA), one of the state&#8217;s main teachers unions, \u200cis advocating for the end \u200bof the basic\u2063 skills test for \u200dcertifying teachers. \u2062The NJEA believes that \u200bthis test, known as the Praxis Core Academic\u200b Skills for Educators: Reading, Writing, and Math, is an unnecessary barrier that hinders efforts\u200d to alleviate teacher shortages.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We need you to take action! Last year, NJ eliminated the edTPA, a barrier to becoming a certified teacher. \u2064Now it&#8217;s time to eliminate another barrier: the \u2063basic skills\u2063 test for teachers. Urge Gov. Murphy to sign S1553 right\u200d away. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WEareNJEA?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WEareNJEA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XH694Vq7Eq\">https:\/\/t.co\/XH694Vq7Eq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NJEA \u200b(@NJEA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NJEA\/status\/1722286123009949935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 8, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The NJEA argues that when the New Jersey Department of \u2063Education (NJDOE) made changes to the \u2063administrative code for teacher certification, they missed an opportunity to eliminate this requirement. According to the NJEA, teachers \u2062should not have to pass \u2062this test before entering\u200b the profession.<\/p>\n<p>The passing scores for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-reading-and-math-scores-for-13-year-olds-declined-to-lowest-level-in-decades-report\/\" title=\"Report: U.S. 13-year-olds' reading and math scores hit record low.\">basic skills test<\/a> are 156 for reading, \u200b150 for math, and 162 for writing. However, certain educators are \u200bexempt from taking the test if they achieve high scores on the SAT, ACT, or GRE, or if they \u200chold a\u200b master&#8217;s \u200cor terminal degree with a minimum GPA\u2062 of 3.0.<\/p>\n<p>Nicki Neily, founder and president of Parents Defending Education, \u2062disagrees with the NJEA&#8217;s stance. She believes that teachers \u200dshould be able\u200d to pass a basic skills test before\u200b they are responsible\u2063 for educating children in core subjects.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/black-friday-gift-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/black-friday-gift-guide&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1700176143395000&#038;usg=AOvVaw2GQyn-tZVpJ8fQryWYIIri\">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE \u200dBLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">You can eliminate some of the unnecessary \u2062red tape around becoming\u2063 a teacher without eliminating a basic skills test.<\/p>\n<p>Teachers should be able to pass a basic \u2064skills test before they\u2019re tasked with \u200deducating children in\u2064 those\u2064 core subjects. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pJjTltuoQl\">https:\/\/t.co\/pJjTltuoQl<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nicki Neily (@nickineily) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nickineily\/status\/1724503212668109142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 14, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Last year, the NJEA successfully advocated \u2062for the elimination of another teacher certification test, the educative Teacher Performance Assessment\u2064 (edTPA).\u200c They \u200bcriticized the edTPA as a costly and unnecessary\u2064 hindrance to addressing the\u200d teacher \u200bshortage.<\/p>\n<p>The NJEA represents over 200,000 active and retired educators \u2062in New Jersey. Governor Phil Murphy has shown support for the NJEA&#8217;s efforts, speaking at \u2064their conference and praising their advocacy in reducing teacher shortages.<\/p>\n<p>Murphy acknowledged the NJEA&#8217;s influence \u2062in securing funding for recruiting and training educators,\u2063 providing stipends \u200cfor student teachers, expanding paraprofessional training through local partnerships,\u200b and \u200cwaiving teacher certification fees for thousands of educators.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Murphy expressed his intention to \u200creduce the bureaucratic burden\u2062 of Student Growth \u200dObjectives (SGOs), which are long-term academic \u200cgoals set by \u2064teachers in collaboration with supervisors. The governor&#8217;s remarks received applause from the NJEA conference attendees.<\/p>\n<p>The governor also\u200b addressed critics of public educators, referring to them as &#8220;extremists&#8221; seeking\u200d to insert political \u2064ideology into schools. He assured the \u200bNJEA that\u200c he supports their work unconditionally.<\/p>\n<p>During the NJEA&#8217;s annual convention, which coincided with the call to eliminate the basic skills test, \u2063the union \u200cmade headlines for hosting a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-residents-discover-sexually-graphic-books-in-childrens-libraries\/\" title=\"Wisconsin residents find explicit books in kids' libraries.\">drag queen story\u2062 hour<\/a>. All schools closed for the convention, allowing educators to\u2064 attend.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This week dozens of schools in New Jersey closed as teachers attended the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NJEA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NJEA<\/a> convention. What \u2064did\u2063 teachers do \u200dat this conference while thousands of kids stayed home from\u200d school?<\/p>\n<p>They were\u200c treated \u2064to\u2064 drag shows, drag queen storytime, and \u201cbanned books\u201d\u200d discussions featuring\u2026 \u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/07R6o6UdQe\">pic.twitter.com\/07R6o6UdQe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Libs of \u200bTikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/libsoftiktok\/status\/1723499531952947417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 12, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200d How do supporters of the basic skills test justify its importance\u200d in ensuring teacher competence? <\/h2>\n<p><span>  Teacher&#8217;s path to certification. The NJEA argues that instead\u2063 of\u200d relying on standardized tests, teacher certification should focus on more \u200dcomprehensive measures \u2062of\u2062 a teacher&#8217;s abilities, such as evaluations \u200bfrom mentors \u2062and supervisors, as well as classroom \u200cobservations.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters of the basic skills\u200b test argue that it is \u2062an important tool for ensuring that teachers have the foundational \u2063knowledge and skills necessary to effectively\u200c educate students. They believe \u200dthat passing\u2064 a basic skills test demonstrates \u200ca teacher&#8217;s competency in \u2064core subjects, such as reading,\u200d writing, and math, which are fundamental to their ability to \u2062teach\u200c and prepare students for\u200c success.<\/p>\n<p>However, the NJEA\u200b believes that the\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-jersey-teachers-union-calls-for-end-of-basic-skills-test-for-teachers\/\" title=\"New Jersey Teachers Union Calls For End Of Basic Skills Test For Teachers\">basic\u200b skills test disproportionately affects aspiring teachers<\/a>\u200d from marginalized \u2062communities. They \u2064argue that\u2063 the test \u200bperpetuates systemic inequities in education by creating \u2063additional barriers for teachers \u2062of color and teachers from low-income backgrounds. According \u200dto the NJEA, the\u2062 test does not accurately \u2063assess a teacher&#8217;s\u200b ability \u200cto effectively teach and connect with students.<\/p>\n<p>The NJEA&#8217;s call for the elimination of the \u200dbasic skills test is not without precedent. Several other states, including Arkansas, West Virginia, and Georgia, have already removed similar tests\u2062 as a requirement \u200bfor teacher certification. In these states, the focus has shifted towards\u200d more holistic \u200bevaluations that consider a teacher&#8217;s performance in the classroom and their ability to connect with students.<\/p>\n<p>Critics of the NJEA&#8217;s stance argue \u2062that eliminating the basic skills test would lead to a lowering of standards for teacher certification. They believe \u200bthat ensuring teacher competence in core subjects is essential for providing students with a quality education.\u200d Without \u2062a basic skills test, there is a risk that individuals who lack \u2063the necessary knowledge and skills may enter the \u2064teaching profession.<\/p>\n<p>The debate \u200csurrounding \u200dthe basic skills test for teacher certification highlights \u2062broader concerns about the state of education in New Jersey and across the\u2064 country. As teacher\u200b shortages \u2063continue \u2062to plague \u200cschools, it is crucial \u2064to find innovative solutions that both ensure teacher quality\u200d and address the systemic barriers that prevent individuals from pursuing careers in education.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the decision to eliminate\u200d or retain the basic\u200d skills\u2063 test for teacher certification in New Jersey will have \u2062far-reaching implications for the education system. It is a\u200d complex issue that requires careful consideration of the impact \u2064on aspiring teachers, students, and the overall quality\u2064 of education. As the \u2062NJEA\u200c advocates for the\u2062 elimination of this test, it is important for stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions and consider alternative measures that can \u2063accurately assess a teacher&#8217;s competency while working \u200ctowards a\u2064 more equitable\u200c and \u200cinclusive education system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of New Jersey&#8217;s main teachers unions, the NJEA, is urging the elimination of the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test. They are calling for an end to this basic skills test for certifying teachers. Governor Phil Murphy&#8217;s signing of Bill S1553 would grant their wish.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":2102504,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2102503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2102503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/243"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2102503"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2102503\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2102504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2102503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2102503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2102503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}