NCTQ Fail

In 2008, the National Council on Teacher Quality gave NJ a "B" for how well we do at "Exiting Ineffective Teachers":

Exiting ineffective teachers 

New Jersey’s policies for exiting ineffective teachers are better than most states but still leave room for improvement. Although the state requires three annual evaluations of new teachers, with the first occurring in the first half of the school year, no policy has been articulated regarding teachers who receive unsatisfactory evaluations. Commendably, the state also requires that all teachers pass all required subject-matter tests as a condition of initial licensure. (p.40)

In 2009, the NCTQ gave NJ at "D+" for how well we do at "Exiting Ineffective Teachers":

Exiting Ineffective Teachers

New Jersey commendably requires that all teachers pass all required subject-matter tests as a condition of initial licensure. However, the state fails to articulate a policy regarding teachers who receive unsatisfactory evaluations. Regrettably, New Jersey does not address the appeal process for tenured teachers who are terminated for poor performance, and it fails to distinguish due process rights for teachers dismissed for ineffective performance from those facing license revocation for dereliction of duty or felony and/or morality violations. (p.77)

Now, were I a snarky bastard, I'd point out that the only change in NJ's educational policy between the publication of the 2008 and 2009 reports was the election of Chris Christie. But, hey, NCTQ is "non-partisan" - I'm sure they'd NEVER politicize their reports...

I'll just leave you to conjecture for yourself why NJ would get such a different grade with no accompanying changes in policies.

I'll also leave you to ponder the irony that these are the people who insist that results on tests are an effective way to judge teacher quality, because testing instruments are SO reliable...