Bill Ending Residency Requirement Could Address NJ Teacher Shortage

TRENTON, NJ — A bill moving through the state Senate could eliminate a law that requires teachers in New Jersey school districts to live in the state, a change some lawmakers hope will address an ongoing shortfall of educators.

Bill S2181 advanced through the state Senate Education Committee on Monday. If passed, the bill would temporarily eliminate the state residency requirement for public school employees for a period of three years.

"The good thing is, it's a three-year pilot," Sen. Vin Gopal, chair of the Senate Education Committee, told NJ 101.5. "We have a major teaching shortage, so (we're) just trying to add one more tool."

A survey by the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association found that in August 2023 only 16.3 percent of schools had fully staffed classrooms.

The current law requiring teachers to live in the state was signed into law in 2011 by former Gov. Chris Christie. In its current form, the law applies to nearly all public employees; however, the bill passed Monday applies only to people hired by schools.

Elimination of the residency requirement was recommended in a 2023 report from a task force created to address public school staff shortages in New Jersey. The task force identified the requirement as a "barrier" to recruiting and training new educators in New Jersey.

"Especially for school districts that border other states, the residency requirement significantly restricts the recruiting pool for educators," the report states. "In addition, this change would reduce the administrative burden and expense currently tied to the residency waiver process."

If passed, the new legislation would require the state Department of Education to submit a report on the program's performance. Also, once the three-year period ends, any out-of-state resident hired can continue to work in New Jersey.