Performance Assessment Requirement for Certification COVID-19 Guidance
The following guidance provides a description of the New Jersey Department of Education’s (NJDOE) Notice of Rule Modification issued pursuant to Executive Order No. 103 (2020) and Executive Order No. 117 (2020) (rule modification). This temporary rule modification, adopted on November 30, 2020, applies to the teacher certification performance assessment (edTPA) requirement. The NJDOE aims to ensure that all candidates who are otherwise eligible for certification but cannot complete the nationally scored edTPA due to obstacles caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency and related limitations can earn initial or permanent (standard) educator certification.
The edTPA is the Commissioner-approved performance assessment required by regulations that requires Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) teacher candidates and Certificate of Eligibility (CE) provisional teachers to plan lessons, assess student work, and submit a video recording of themselves teaching students. Some candidates are unable to complete the edTPA due to abrupt changes in teaching placements or modalities, asynchronous virtual learning environments, district policies, and other restrictions caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Candidates who are able to complete edTPA in the usual manner with national scoring shall be required to do so. National scoring of edTPA includes the review and evaluation of evidence and artifacts specified for each task within each subject-matter handbook submitted through edTPA’s electronic portal and scored by nationally trained scorers utilizing edTPA rubrics and guidelines.
However, to ensure all candidates have an equitable opportunity to demonstrate preparedness to teach within their individual circumstances, the flexibilities provided in this rule modification allow educator preparation programs to determine alternative measures of readiness to teach for candidates seeking initial or standard teaching certification during the COVID-19 public health emergency. If a state-approved educator preparation program provider determines, on a case-by-case basis, that a teacher candidate is unable to complete the edTPA, the provider must submit to the NJDOE an alternative measure for approval to demonstrate the teacher candidate’s readiness to teach.
Additionally, the NJDOE will extend flexibility to teacher leader preparation programs to provide candidates who successfully complete a teacher leader program during the COVID-19 public health emergency with a NJDOE-approved alternative assessment to complete and pass prior to recommending the candidate for certification in the absence of a Commissioner-approved performance assessment.
Effective Date: The rule modification applies to certification requirements at N.J.A.C. 6A:9A-4.5 and 5.5 and 6A:9B-8.2 and 8.7 and is effective from November 30, 2020 until the end of the semester in which the public health emergency ends.
Temporary flexibilities apply to the following:
- Candidates applying for CEAS who are able to complete the edTPA in the usual manner with national scoring shall be required to do so. If a candidate is enrolled in a state-approved educator preparation program as of September 1, 2020 and the program provider determines, on a case-by-case basis, that a teacher candidate is unable to complete the edTPA but has met all other requirements for the CEAS, the provider may submit to the NJDOE for approval an alternative measure to demonstrate readiness to teach.
- CE provisional teachers applying for a standard certificate who are able to complete the edTPA in the usual manner with national scoring shall be required to do so. If a candidate is enrolled in a state-approved educator preparation program as of September 1, 2020 and the program provider determines, on a case-by-case basis, that a teacher candidate is unable to complete the edTPA but has met all other requirements for the standard certificate, the provider may submit to the NJDOE for approval an alternative measure to demonstrate readiness to teach.
- Certificate of Eligibility through Reciprocity (CE-R) teachers applying for a standard certificate who meet all other standard certification requirements shall be exempt from the performance assessment requirement during the COVID-19 public health emergency and must demonstrate readiness to teach via teacher evaluations completed pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.6.
2020-2021 Performance Assessment (edTPA) Guidance for Educator Preparation Program Providers
Next Steps for Educator Preparation Providers
If a program provider determines that a candidate cannot complete the edTPA, CE and CEAS educator preparation providers will submit a plan to the NJDOE prior to recommending candidates for certification describing how each candidate recommended for certification who was unable to complete edTPA has otherwise demonstrated readiness to teach. Prior to recommending candidates for certification, the provider must receive formal approval from the NJDOE of its alternative plans.
Educator preparation providers have the discretion to determine the criteria for an alternative measure. The criteria must be related to limitations caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency that have prohibited candidates from completing the edTPA. These limitations may include, but are not limited to:
- Ongoing shifts in mode of instruction (i.e., virtual, hybrid, and/or in-person);
- District policies;
- Limited number of students;
- Completing clinical practice asynchronously; or
- Receiving an “incomplete” on an edTPA submission due to COVID-19 related limitations.
As is the case for other determinations of whether a candidate meets NJDOE’s certification requirements, determination of eligibility for an alternative measure resides solely with the provider, to be carried out according to the provider’s policies for determining whether to recommend candidates for certification.
The alternative measure should either be a locally-evaluated edTPA or a compilation of other candidate evidence. Evidence included should demonstrate a candidate’s proficiency in planning, teaching, and assessing in alignment with edTPA tasks. The evidence provided should be comparable to the type and quantity of evidence provided in a typical edTPA task completion process. Such evidence may include, but is not limited to:
- Clinical practice observations;
- Course performance tasks/assessments;
- Clinical supervisor/cooperating teacher recommendations;
- Formal observations/evaluations (provisional CE candidates);
- Supervisor recommendations (provisional CE candidates); and
- Exit interviews
Educator preparation providers’ plans for an alternative measure must also detail scoring processes, mechanisms (rubric, checklist, guidelines, etc.), and a minimum passing standard. The type and quantity of evidence required of candidates for the alternative measure should not significantly exceed that of edTPA. Educator preparation providers will apply the approved alternative measure to all eligible candidates within the provider’s program.
If a CE or CEAS educator preparation provider would like to recommend a candidate for certification who cannot complete the edTPA due to COVID-19-related limitations, providers must submit an Educator Preparation Provider Alternative Measure Plan (e-mailed directly to each approved educator preparation provider) to the NJDOE for review and approval prior to recommending candidates for certification. The plan must describe how candidates to be recommended for certification will meet the requirements of the educator preparation provider’s approved alternative measure.
The NJDOE must approve educator preparation provider plans using the criteria outlined in Steps 1 and 2 above before candidates are recommended for certification. NJDOE staff will work with educator preparation providers to ensure adequate evidence is collected and that no provider or candidate is unduly burdened. Educator preparation providers will receive notification from the NJDOE regarding plan approvals within two weeks of submission.
Educator preparation providers should email rpr@doe.nj.gov to request a link to the Educator Preparation Provider Alternative Measure Plan, if not already received.
Educator preparation providers are responsible for communicating to candidates the details of the rule modification, available flexibilities and the NJDOE-approved alternative measures available in lieu of a nationally-scored edTPA submission.
Within a week of NJDOE approval of provider alternative measure, all candidates should be formally notified of:
- Criteria used to determine eligibility for an alternative measure in lieu of nationally-scored edTPA;
- The NJDOE-approved alternative measure and passing standard; and
- Whether they are eligible for the alternative measure.
Candidates should also be made aware that alternative measures, including locally-evaluated edTPA results, are not considered official scores by edTPA and may not be honored by other states for reciprocity purposes.
Candidates should communicate to the educator preparation provider if they experience a change in circumstances that may affect their eligibility for an alternative measure. If a candidate becomes eligible for an alternative measure due to a change in circumstances, they should be notified by the educator preparation provider as soon as possible and provided ample time to meet the expectations of the alternative measure.
If candidates meet all other certification requirements and demonstrate readiness to teach by passing edTPA through national scoring or satisfying a provider’s alternative measure, then candidates are eligible for a CEAS or standard certificate and may be recommended by the educator preparation provider to the NJDOE for the appropriate certification.
CEAS candidates must be submitted through the Teacher Licensing for Approved Programs (TLAP) Batch Submission Process, using TLAP Guidance (emailed to each educator preparation provider’s certification officer).
CE candidates must be recommended for standard certification using the Verification of Program Completion (VOPC) Form. In the “Performance Assessment” section, educator preparation providers will indicate whether the candidate completed edTPA or an alternative measure and confirm that the candidate met the established minimum standard.
Recommending CEAS Candidates for Certification without Performance Assessment Completion
If candidates do not complete edTPA or the NJDOE-approved alternative measure as outlined above because it is not a program completion requirement of their CEAS educator preparation program, certification regulations (N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.3(f)) allow the NJDOE to issue a Certificate of Eligibility (CE) to candidates who complete an approved CEAS educator preparation program and meet all other certification requirements except the performance assessment.
The CE is an initial teaching certificate which authorizes the holder to begin teaching. Candidates who successfully complete a CEAS program without the performance assessment and earn a CE are exempt from completing an additional preparation program but must complete edTPA during the provisional period (two to four years) and prior to earning standard certification. The NJDOE encourages educator preparation providers to support program completers earning a CE with the edTPA process, when possible.
Though candidates typically apply on their own to earn a CE, the NJDOE will allow state-approved educator preparation providers to recommend program completers for the CE.
Educator preparation providers have the discretion to determine program entry and completion requirements at or above minimum state regulatory requirements as outlined in N.J.A.C. 6A:9A.
Contact Information
- For certification questions, contact licensing.requests@doe.nj.gov.
- For performance assessment questions and preparation program questions, contact rpr@doe.nj.gov.
Regulatory References
NJ Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.) Citation |
Requirement |
Temporary Flexibility |
6A:9B-8.2 |
Performance assessment required for CEAS. |
Performance assessment is required for a CEAS. Educator preparation providers may use an alternative measure approved by the NJDOE to determine preparedness to teach in lieu of the edTPA. |
6A:9A-5.5 |
Performance assessment required for CE program completion. |
Performance assessment is required for program completion. Educator preparation providers may use an alternative measure approved by the NJDOE to determine preparedness to teach in lieu of the edTPA. |
6A:9B-8.7 |
Performance assessment required for CE candidates to earn standard certificate. |
Performance assessment is required for a standard certificate. Educator preparation providers may use an alternative measure approved by the NJDOE to determine preparedness to teach in lieu of the edTPA. |
6A:9B-8.7(a)4i |
Performance assessment required for CE candidates through reciprocity to earn standard certificate. |
Performance assessment is not required to earn a standard certificate for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The candidates shall demonstrate readiness to teach via teacher evaluations completed pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-8.6. |
6A:9A-6.4(a)2 |
Performance assessment required for completion of teacher leader preparation program. |
In lieu of a Commissioner-approved performance assessment, approved teacher leader preparation programs may use an alternative assessment approved by the NJDOE to determine candidate proficiency. |
6A:9B-11A.3(a)5 |
Performance assessment required to earn the teacher leader endorsement. |
In lieu of a Commissioner-approved performance assessment, approved teacher leader preparation programs may use an alternative assessment approved by the NJDOE to determine candidate proficiency and recommend candidates for the teacher leader endorsement. |