On May 12, the Senate Education Committee unanimously approved bill A5077/S4375. This legislative move brings the bill closer to becoming law, needing only one more vote before reaching Governor Murphy's desk. If enacted, it would extend the pause on Student Growth Objectives (SGOs) for most teachers in New Jersey.
Steve Beatty, Vice President of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), attended the committee hearing to express gratitude towards the committee for their efforts and vision in advancing the bill. He acknowledged the collaborative work of stakeholders and highlighted NJEA members' significant contributions. “This is an important day for educators because it means that lawmakers in Trenton are listening to NJEA members and other education stakeholders,” Beatty stated, emphasizing the strong support from NJEA members for this initiative. “When we use our voices together, we make change happen.”
NJEA members have voiced concerns about SGOs' demanding paperwork requirements, which they find burdensome and redundant. The process has been criticized for not providing meaningful data that teachers can use effectively.
The proposed legislation aims to alleviate stress associated with SGOs by continuing a statutory pause on collecting new SGO data for tenured teachers until AchieveNJ regulations are revised, set to expire in July 2027. Additionally, it allows teachers to "opt-in" voluntarily and clarifies eligibility criteria concerning midyear tenure dates. During this pause, tenured teachers' latest SGO scores will be retained for future use.
Having previously passed through the New Jersey Assembly, the bill now awaits a full Senate vote before proceeding to Governor Murphy.
