NJ Bill Encourages Minority Men to Become Teachers

A New Jersey legislative panel is set to advance a measure to recruit minority men to teach in the state's worst schools.

The bill going before the Senate education committee Thursday gives men from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to pursue teaching careers through alternate-route certification. They would be assigned to teach in one of six chronically failing schools as part of a two-year pilot program.
 
State education officials haven't yet picked the schools.
 
The purpose is to increase access to teaching opportunities for poor and minority males and get more high-quality teachers into failing schools.

The Assembly approved the measure in May. But Gov. Chris Christie hasn't said whether he would sign it.

The governor has supported other ideas with the potential of helping students in failing schools.