News Department

Senate advances bill that would address teacher shortage

NEW JERSEY –  School districts in New Jersey may soon be able to hire recently retired teachers to fill gaps in staffing thanks to legislation sponsored by Senator Kristin Corrado and approved this week by the New Jersey Senate.

“This sensible legislation will allow increased flexibility for school districts to hire recently retired, qualified individuals to return to the classroom to help address the statewide teacher shortage,” said Corrado (R-40). “Closing down schools during the pandemic and switching to online learning was a devastating policy that caused tremendous learning loss. This bill will help alleviate the consequences that were a result of that policy and get our students and our schools back on track.”

Corrado’s legislation, S-3798, permits a teacher or staff member that provides special services, such as a speech language specialist, who retired from the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to return to work full time in a position of critical need without being reenrolled in the TPAF if reemployment begins during the 2023-2024 school year.

The bill permits the return to work under a contract for one year, which may be renewed only for one additional year. The total period of reemployment with any individual board of education must not exceed a two-year period, unless approved by the Commissioner of Education.

Jay Edwards

Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter (award winning), NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. Jay has been a guest on America’s Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion.

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