On Monday, Sept. 30, the New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force submitted its final report with recommendations to Gov. Phil Murphy and the Legislature. This task force was established pursuant to legislation enacted earlier this year and was charged with studying and evaluating the educator evaluation system established pursuant to the TEACHNJ Act and making recommendations concerning the annual evaluation process for teachers and other staff.

Per the enabling statute, the task force considered the law in the current context of the state’s schools, identified areas for improvement and made any recommendations regarding any appropriate changes or updates to the law or regulations implementing the law. The task force began its work in July with the goal of meeting the statutory deadline of Sept. 30 to issue a report. The overarching goal of the task force was to identify ways to reduce the administrative burden the evaluation system places on teachers and administrators, thereby allowing them to spend more time engaged in the classroom with students.

The group consisted of 13 members as follows:

  • Dr. David Aderhold, Garden State Coalition of Schools (Chair).
  • Steve Beatty, New Jersey Education Association (Vice Chair).
  • Karen Bingert, New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (Vice Chair).
  • Karen Bennett, New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association.
  • Michael Iovino, American Federation of Teachers New Jersey.
  • Dr. Michael LaSusa, New Jersey Association of School Administrators.
  • Dayna Orlak, New Jersey Education Association.
  • Jonathan Pushman, New Jersey School Boards Association.
  • Sen. Teresa Ruiz, New Jersey Senate Majority Leader.
  • Joseph Spoltore, New Jersey Principal and Supervisors Association.
  • Rebecca Wills, Office of the Governor.
  • Elisabeth Yucis, New Jersey Education Association.
  • Suzana Zeitz, Assembly Speaker’s Representative.

A copy of the full report can be accessed here.

The NJSBA joined with the other education associations represented on the task force in issuing a joint statement expressing support for its recommendations:

The New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force came into being as the result of the passage of A3413/ S2082, signed by Murphy on May 17, 2024. The legislation charged the Task Force with  “examining the educator evaluation process, gathering data, evaluating the data, and making recommendations concerning the annual evaluation process for teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice principals established pursuant to the “TEACHNJ Act,” P.L.2012, c.264 (C.18A:6-117 et al.).

The legislation identified a committee of 13 individuals representing the following: the New Jersey Education Association (three representatives, including two full-time teachers); the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (three representatives, including a principal and vice-principal); the New Jersey School Boards Association; the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; the Garden State Coalition of Schools; and the American Federation of Teachers; as well as three members appointed by the president of the Senate, the speaker of the General Assembly, and the governor, respectively.

The group began work on the tasks set forth in the legislation on July 16, 2024.  After 10 weeks of dedicated research, analysis, discussion and writing, the task force completed its recommendations by the mandated deadline of Sept. 30, 2024.

We, the undersigned education organizations, support the work of the task force and its recommendations. In doing so, we also understand that the recommendations represent the successful culmination of one process and the beginning of another, depending on how the recommendations are received, reviewed and, potentially, implemented.

The task force’s recommendations acknowledge the strong statutory framework provided by the 2012 TEACH NJ ACT.  They further underscore the fact that time, the evolution of educational practice and implementation of TEACHNJ and AchieveNJ (New Jersey’s administrative code adopted by the State Board of Education) necessitate a review and update of our educator evaluation system.

The recommendations, whether facilitated through regulatory changes and/or enhanced guidance from the New Jersey Department of Education, are designed to invigorate student learning by emphasizing professional development, a collaborative approach to evaluations, a continued emphasis on analyzing student growth and a renewed emphasis on the evaluation options allowed by regulation under AchieveNJ.  The recommendations are intended to continue to foster professional growth, while eliminating unnecessary administrative burdens on teachers and administrators. These burdens, which depart from the intention of the original legislation, have become time-consuming and repetitive, requiring energy and resources that might be better spent on promoting student learning.

We look forward to the coming months, and we encourage all parties to remember that time is of the essence as the recommendations are considered and ideas for implementation developed. We pledge to continue our collaborative approach to this work while keeping our focus on the ultimate goal of our system – to promote and enhance quality teaching and learning in every New Jersey school.

New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association

New Jersey Education Association

Garden State Coalition of Schools

New Jersey Association of School Administrators

New Jersey School Boards Association

American Federation of Teachers