NJ Gov Phil Murphy Eliminates Basic Skills Test for Teachers [WATCH]

A new law in New Jersey, set to take effect on January 1, 2025, will remove the requirement for prospective teachers to pass a basic skills test in reading, writing, and mathematics to earn certification.

The legislation, known as Act 1669, was signed by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy as part of the state’s 2025 budget in an effort to address a growing teacher shortage.

So teachers don’t need to know how to read in New Jersey?

Seems like that would make it challenging to teach kids how to read. https://t.co/xpkJo6swt1

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 5, 2025

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Under the new law, individuals seeking an instructional certificate will no longer need to pass the basic skills test administered by the state’s Commissioner of Education.

This change comes amid increasing demand for educators, particularly in the fields of math and science, according to an annual report from New Jersey’s Department of Education.

NJ Dem Gov Phil Murphy Sign Law to Remove Basic Skills Requirement for Teachers…

A new law in New Jersey, set to take effect on January 1, 2025, will remove the requirement for prospective teachers to pass a basic skills test in reading, writing, and mathematics to earn… pic.twitter.com/81uRdHUNiH

— RVM News (@redvoicenews) January 6, 2025

“We need more teachers,” said Democratic Senator Jim Beach, who sponsored the bill, according to the New Jersey Monitor. “This is the best way to get them.”

The teacher shortage in New Jersey mirrors a national trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To address the issue, states such as California and Arizona have also lowered certification requirements, including eliminating exam requirements and creating fast-track options for substitute teachers to transition into full-time roles, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In June, Governor Murphy signed a similar bill into law, providing an alternative pathway for teacher certification that bypasses the testing requirement.

The New Jersey Education Association, a powerful teachers union, supported both measures, describing the basic skills test as “an unnecessary barrier to entering the profession.”

New Jersey teachers earn an average annual salary of $81,102, according to the National Education Association, placing them among the higher-paid educators in the United States.

However, the state’s move to eliminate testing requirements is not unique.

In 2017, New York removed literacy requirements for teachers, citing the goal of increasing diversity within the profession.

Despite high education spending—nearly twice the national average—New York students have continued to struggle with proficiency.

Only about half of students in grades three through eight tested as proficient in English and math during the 2022–2023 school year.

Similarly, Massachusetts has opted to lower testing standards for students to allow more of them to pass rather than address learning losses caused by pandemic-related school closures.

The removal of the testing requirement in New Jersey raises questions about the balance between easing entry into the teaching profession and ensuring educators are adequately prepared.

Critics argue that lowering certification standards may undermine efforts to improve learning outcomes for students, many of whom are still grappling with pandemic-era learning gaps.

Teachers unions, which hold significant influence in New Jersey and other blue states, have been instrumental in pushing such legislation.

While these measures aim to alleviate staffing shortages, they have sparked debates about their long-term impact on education quality.

As New Jersey implements Act 1669, it joins a growing number of states adjusting teacher certification requirements to address immediate staffing needs while navigating the challenges of maintaining academic standards in schools.

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