Garden State Times

Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis’ bill, aimed at creating the New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force, was signed into law on May 17. The task force will study and propose changes to the current public educator evaluation system established under the TEACHNJ Act of 2012.

“Educators should spend their time planning and teaching, not filling out endless piles of tedious paperwork,” Matsikoudis (R-Union) stated.

Under the bill (S2082/A3413), the 13-member task force is required to submit its recommendations to the governor and legislature by September 30. These recommendations are expected to be adopted for the 2025-26 academic year.

“My district office has been inundated with messages from teachers saying this law will give them more time to focus on what truly matters: teaching their students,” Matsikoudis continued. “The bureaucracy of the current system doesn’t help improve student growth objectives.”

Since the 2013-14 school year, public school principals, assistant principals, vice principals, and teachers have undergone annual evaluations based on student achievements and classroom observations. Teachers were responsible for setting student growth objectives based on state assessments—a process that involves significant paperwork, particularly for high school teachers who may manage over 100 students. Tenure decisions hinge on these scores, with already-tenured educators risking loss of status if deemed ineffective through arbitration.

Matsikoudis highlighted that teacher shortages are a driving factor behind this push for change. Many college students are opting for other professions while existing teachers and administrators leave due to "challenging work conditions."

“While still maintaining important accountability measures, this law aligns with my overall mission to cut burdensome red tape and improve the quality of dedicated instruction that our K-12 students receive in the classroom,” Matsikoudis added. “I’m hopeful that this bipartisan, common-sense solution will provide a better work environment for our state’s educators, empowering them to help our students grow into the very best version of themselves.”