Retired New Jersey Teachers Can Return To Work And Keep Pensions

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a new law allowing retired teachers to return to classrooms for up to two years without giving up their pensions. The law aims to address the state's shortage of educators. Retired teachers can be hired by districts during the 2023-2024 school year as long as they have been retired for at least 180 days. They will receive their pension allowance and a salary during the duration of their contract. The shortage of teachers in New Jersey has been most severe in special education, science, and instruction for non-native English speakers. Lawmakers are also considering other methods to tackle the shortages, including suspending the state residency requirement for educators. The scale of the shortage remains unclear despite a recent law requiring the state Department of Education to issue annual reports on teacher staffing.