N.J.S.A. 18A:6-136, the “Minority Men Bill”, sponsored by senators M. Teresa Ruiz and Troy Singleton, as well as assembly members Pamela Lampitt, Mila Jasey, and Angela McKnight was signed into law on May 10, 2019 by Governor Murphy. The statute requires the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education to establish an alternate route educator preparation program to increase the number of male teachers of color in classrooms throughout New Jersey through the K-12 Workforce Diversity Pilot Program.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) recognizes the need to increase and retain diversity in the K-12 education workforce, specifically for men from disadvantaged or minority backgrounds. The NJDOE selected Rowan University as the first partner to implement the K-12 Workforce Diversity Pilot Program through their alternate route teacher preparation program (ASPIRE to Teach). Established as the “Men of Color Hope Achievers”(MOCHA) Program, this joint partnership will aim to recruit, prepare, and place 25 participants each year of the two-year pilot to obtain licensure to teach in participating school districts. The new teachers will serve as role models for minority and non-minority students. For additional information about applying to MOCHA and a list of participating school districts, please visit Rowan’s ASPIRE to Teach – Certificate of Eligibility (CE) Educator Preparation Program.

If you are interested in participating in this program and have questions, please email MOCHA@doe.nj.gov