Senate Hearing to Refocus Attention on Tenure Reform

With no vote planned, Sen. Ruiz still has time to work out the details of her high-profile bill
By John Mooney

The debate over tenure reform in New Jersey is likely to be back on the front burner next week, as a high-profile bill goes before a key Senate committee — with some key questions far from resolved.

The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), would revamp how teachers receive and lose tenure. Titled “Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of NJ” (TEACHNJ), the bill has been scheduled for hearing by the Senate education committee on Monday.

Ruiz, who chairs the committee, said the panel would not be voting on the bill on Monday, but only accepting testimony as to its strengths and weaknesses and suggestions for possible improvements.

She did not set a timeframe for when she hopes the bill does come to a vote.

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