By Jessica Calefati/The Star-Ledger
TRENTON — The Senate unanimously approved a measure today intended to overhaul the state’s century-old teacher tenure law and instead base job protection on regular classroom evaluations and student test scores.
State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) who sponsored the legislation, made compromises with the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, adopting amendments that retain the practice of laying off teachers based on seniority when budget cuts require staff reductions.
Senate President Steven Sweeney (D-Gloucester) called Ruiz’s tenure measure “one of the most significant pieces of legislation I’ve been involved in.”
But Senate Republicans criticized what they consider the shortcomings of the bill, which faces a much rougher road in the Assembly.
State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) said he is “disappointed” the bill does not “go further to protect children.”
Kyrillos, who is running for the U.S. Senate, is the sponsor of a tenure reform bill backed by the Christie administration, which does address seniority.
“This is a step, but it is a much smaller step than many people would have preferred,” Kyrillos said. “Let’s get on with the rest of the job.”
But Republicans were not the only ones to criticize the legislation. Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a Democrat, chided Ruiz for not tackling seniority protections.
Legislation that does not take into account teachers’ performance when declining enrollment forces layoffs will make it “very difficult for urban districts to be successful,” Booker said.
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