Elon Musk slams New Jersey’s decision to do away with basic skills test for teachers – Times of India

New Jersey’s controversial Act 1669, which went into effect on January 1, 2025, has sparked renewed debate about the standards for teacher certification. Signed into law by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy in May 2024, the bill eliminates the requirement for aspiring teachers to pass the Praxis Core Test, a basic skills exam covering reading, writing, and math. The aim is to address the state’s critical teacher shortage by making it easier for potential educators to enter the profession.
Aimed at Expanding the Teacher Pipeline
Supporters of the law, including Democratic Senator Jim Beach, who sponsored the bill, argue that the Praxis Core Test serves as an unnecessary barrier to entering the teaching profession. “We need more teachers,” Beach said at the time of the law’s passage, emphasizing that the streamlined certification process would make it easier for qualified individuals to become teachers without the added challenge of passing standardized tests. The law passed with broad bipartisan support in the New Jersey legislature, receiving a 34-2 vote.
The move is part of a larger effort to address the national teacher shortage, particularly in states like New Jersey, where schools have faced difficulties in hiring enough qualified staff. Teacher unions, including the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), have been vocal in their support of the bill, arguing that the Praxis Core Test was an “unnecessary barrier” to those who want to teach but may not perform well on standardized exams.

Elon Musk’s Critique on X
The law, however, has attracted criticism from high-profile figures, including entrepreneur Elon Musk. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk questioned whether it was wise to remove the basic skills test requirement for teachers. “So teachers don’t need to know how to read in New Jersey? Seems like that would make it challenging to teach kids how to read,” Musk wrote, raising concerns about the potential consequences for educational standards.
Musk’s remarks have ignited a larger conversation about the balance between addressing teacher shortages and maintaining the quality of education. Critics of the law worry that bypassing basic literacy and numeracy requirements may undermine the quality of teaching, especially in subjects where foundational skills are crucial.