The Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education shall have the authority and responsibility under this act to plan, establish, and operate a Statewide performance evaluation project. This project, through voluntary cooperation among local school districts, teacher training institutions, professional educational organizations, and the State Department of Education, shall concentrate on developing criteria for professional teaching competence based on performance evaluation prior to the issuance of initial teaching certificates.
N.J.S. § 18A:6-75