The Professional Standards and Learning unit supports the work required to implement the New Jersey Professional Standards for teachers and school leaders and other state and federal educator quality initiatives. The New Jersey Professional Standards, adopted by the State Board of Education in December 2003, provide a clear vision of the knowledge, performance and dispositions that teachers and school leaders need to support student learning and achievement of the revised Core Curriculum Content Standards.

The Professional Standards and Learning unit has responsibility for supporting teacher and school leader quality initiatives including:

• Professional Development for Teachers and the work of the Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB);
• Professional Development for School Leaders and the work of the School Leader Professional Development Advisory Committee;
• The State Action for Education Leadership Project (SAELP) that strengthens the focus on instructional leadership;
• The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) subsidy and support program;
• The Teacher  Mentor and Induction Support and Training Program; and
• The Highly Qualified Teacher Initiative under NCLB.

For more information on these initiatives and the services offered by the unit, please click on each initiative page.