N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:9B-11.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 12, June 17, 2024

Section 6A:9B-11.4 - Teacher of students with disabilities

(a) A candidate for a CE or CEAS with a teacher of students with disabilities endorsement shall complete the certification requirements at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8 and the endorsement requirements at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-9. The candidate also shall:

1. Possess a CE, CEAS, or standard New Jersey instructional certificate with an endorsement appropriate to the subject or grade level to be taught;

2. For the deaf or hard-of-hearing with sign language communication endorsement, achieve an intermediate or higher score on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) or a score of three or higher on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI);

3. Be exempt from the test of subject-matter knowledge pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-9.1(a)2;

4. For CE candidates, be exempt from the subject course requirements at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-9.1(a)1;

5. Be exempt from the performance assessment, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.2(a)6 and 8.7(a)4; and

6. Be exempt from the clinical practice requirement, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.2(b).

(b) A candidate for the CEAS with a teacher of students with disabilities endorsement who has met the requirements at (a)1 above shall complete, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9A-4, an educator preparation program that includes a minimum of 21 credit hours in the topics at (d), (e), (g), or (h) below. In addition to the requirements for a CEAS, a candidate for the deaf or hard-of-hearing with sign language communication endorsement shall achieve an intermediate or higher score on the SLPI or a score of three or higher on the ASLPI.

(c) In addition to the provisional certificate requirements at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.4, a candidate shall:

1. Hold a CE or CEAS with a teacher of students with disabilities endorsement and the instructional endorsement required for the teaching assignment; and

2. For holders of a CE with a teacher of students with disabilities endorsement, be enrolled at an accredited college or university in an educator preparation program that includes a minimum of 21 credit hours in the topics at (d) through (g) below.

(d) Provisional teachers who hold a CE with a teacher of students with disabilities endorsement shall complete the requirements for a standard certificate, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.7, except as provided at (e), (g), and (h) below, and shall:

1. Complete, at an accredited college or university, an educator preparation program that includes a minimum of 21 credit hours of formal instruction in the following topics:

i. Philosophical, historical, and legal foundations of special education;

ii. Characteristics of students with disabilities;

iii. Standardized and functional assessment;

iv. Strategies for the development of literacy;

v. Curriculum planning, learning environments, modifications, and materials for students with disabilities;

vi. Inclusive education practices, positive behavioral supports, communication, and collaborative partnerships;

vii. Assistive technology;

viii. Transition planning, program development, and agencies available for students with disabilities; and

ix. Autism spectrum disorders;

2. Complete, if the provisional teacher holds a CE with the instructional endorsement required for the teaching assignment pursuant to (c)1 above, the courses required at (d)1 above prior to, or concurrently with, the formal instructional requirements of the CE educator preparation program required for the standard certificate at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.7; and

3. Be exempt from the performance assessment requirement, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.7(a)4.

(e) While teaching under a provisional certificate with a blind or visually impaired endorsement, a candidate for a standard certificate shall:

1. Complete, at an accredited college or university, an educator preparation program that includes a minimum of 21 credit hours of formal instruction in the following topics:

i. Philosophical, historical, and legal issues in the education of students who are blind/visually impaired;

ii. Anatomy, physiology, and characteristics of students who are blind/visually impaired;

iii. Standardized and functional assessment of students who are blind/visually impaired;

iv. Strategies and materials for developing literacy and numeracy skills in students who are blind or visually impaired including Braille and Nemeth codes;

v. Curriculum planning, learning environments, modifications, and materials for students who are blind/visually impaired;

vi. Inclusive education practices, positive behavioral supports, communication, and collaborative partnerships;

vii. Assistive technology and augmentative communication systems for students who are blind or visually impaired;

viii. Orientation and mobility concepts and techniques; and

ix. Transition planning, program services, and agencies available for students who are blind/visually impaired; and

2. Complete the courses at (e)1 above prior to, or concurrently with, the formal instructional requirements of the CE educator preparation program required for the standard certificate at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.7, if the provisional teacher with the CE with a blind or visually impaired endorsement holds a CE in the instructional endorsement required for the teaching assignment.

(f) While teaching under a provisional certificate with a deaf or hard-of-hearing with oral/aural communication endorsement, a candidate for a standard certificate shall:

1. Complete, at an accredited college or university, an educator preparation program that includes a minimum of 21 credit hours of formal instruction in the following topics:

i. Philosophical, historical, and legal issues in the education of students who are deaf/hard of hearing;

ii. Characteristics of students who are deaf/hard of hearing;

iii. Standardized and functional assessment of students who are deaf/hard of hearing;

iv. Strategies for the development of language and literacy of students who are deaf/hard of hearing;

v. Curriculum planning, learning environments, modifications, and materials for students who are deaf/hard of hearing;

vi. Inclusive education practices, positive behavioral supports, communication, and collaborative partnerships;

vii. Speech, applied audiology, assistive listening devices and assistive technology;

viii. American Sign Language, deaf culture, and communication philosophies; and

ix. Transition planning, program services, and agencies available for students who are deaf/hard of hearing; and

2. Complete the courses at (f)1 above prior to, or concurrently with, the formal instructional requirements of the CE educator preparation program required for the standard certificate at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.7, if the provisional teacher with the CE with a deaf or hard-of-hearing with oral/aural communication endorsement holds a CE in the instructional endorsement required for the teaching assignment.

(g) While teaching under a provisional certificate with a deaf or hard-of-hearing with sign language communication endorsement, a candidate for a standard certificate shall:

1. Complete, at an accredited college or university, an education preparation program that includes a minimum of 21 credit hours of formal instruction in the following topics:

i. Philosophical, historical, and legal issues in the education of students who are deaf/hard of hearing;

ii. Characteristics of students who are deaf/hard of hearing;

iii. Standardized and functional assessment of students who are deaf/hard of hearing;

iv. Strategies for the development of language and literacy of students who are deaf/hard of hearing;

v. Curriculum planning, learning environments, modifications, and materials for students who are deaf/hard of hearing;

vi. Inclusive education practices, positive behavioral supports, communication, and collaborative partnerships;

viii. American Sign Language, deaf culture, and communication philosophies; and

ix. Transition planning, program services, and agencies available for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing; and

2. Complete the courses at (g)1 above prior to, or concurrently with, the formal instructional requirements of the CE educator preparation program required for the standard certificate at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.7, if the provisional teacher with the CE with a deaf or hard-of-hearing with sign language communication endorsement holds a CE in the instructional endorsement required for the teaching assignment.

(h) Holders of a CEAS with a teacher of students with disabilities endorsement pursuant to (b) above are not required to complete (d)2, (e)2, (f)2, or (g)2 above.

(i) Holders of a CEAS with a blind or partially sighted endorsement shall not be required to complete the requirements at (e)2 above. Holders of a CEAS with a deaf or hard-of-hearing with oral/aural communication endorsement shall not be required to complete the requirements at (f)2 above. Holders of a CEAS with a deaf or hard-of-hearing with sign language communication endorsement shall not be required to complete the requirements at (g)2 above.

(j) To renew a provisional certificate with a teacher of students with disabilities endorsement, provisional certificate holders shall meet the following requirements:

1. Demonstrate successful completion of at least two courses per provisional period, as required of the approved educator preparation program; and

2. Be rated effective or highly effective during the year of the requested renewal.

(k) No holder of a provisional certificate shall be employed for more than six years in a position requiring certification as a teacher of students with disabilities.

(l) The special education pedagogy required at (e), (f), and (g) above shall be completed at an accredited four-year college or university.

(m) Holders of standard certificates with teacher of students with disabilities endorsements shall be issued additional instructional certificates when they meet the requirements for a CE, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.2(a).

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:9B-11.4

Amended by R.2005 d.110, effective 4/4/2005.
See: 36 N.J.R. 5044(a), 37 N.J.R. 1060(a).
Added (k).
Amended by R.2006 d.170, effective 5/15/2006.
See: 37 N.J.R. 4612(a), 38 N.J.R. 2126(a).
Substituted "6A:9-12.5(j)2 " for "6A:9-12.5(i)2 " in (a)1iv.
Amended by R.2008 d.7, effective 1/7/2008.
See: 39 N.J.R. 3441(a), 40 N.J.R. 113(b).
Rewrote the section.
Amended by R.2009 d.24, effective 1/5/2009.
See: 40 N.J.R. 4856(a), 41 N.J.R. 128(a).
In (b), substituted "state-approved" for "State-approved" twice; added new (c); recodified former (c) through (l) as (d) through (m); in (f), substituted "(i)" for "(h)"; and in (i)1, substituted "(e)" for "(d)".
Amended by R.2011 d.053, effective 2/7/2011.
See: 42 N.J.R. 1947(a), 43 N.J.R. 282(b).
Deleted former (k); and recodified former (l) and (m) as (k) and (l).
Amended by R.2011 d.226, effective 8/15/2011.
See: 43 N.J.R. 767(a), 43 N.J.R. 2176(a).
Added (m) and (n).
Amended by R.2013 d.091, effective 7/1/2013.
See: 45 N.J.R. 152(a), 45 N.J.R. 1605(a).
Rewrote the section.

Amended and recodified from 6A:9B-10.3 by 47 N.J.R. 2989(a), effective 12/7/2015

Amended by 55 N.J.R. 853(a), effective 5/1/2023