"School Children First Act"; establishes factors for determining compensation; requires principal consent for teacher placement; eliminates certain seniority rights.

The School Children First Act requires New Jersey school districts to change how they determine compensation for teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals. Instead of prioritizing seniority, districts must base pay primarily on teacher effectiveness ratings, assignment to failing schools (as identified by the Commissioner of Education), and teaching in "difficult to staff" subject areas. The bill also requires principals to consent before teachers are placed in schools, with teachers unable to find a consenting principal potentially facing 12 months of unpaid leave. Additionally, school districts must publicly report teacher effectiveness ratings, and layoffs for these positions must be based on effectiveness rather than seniority.