The New Jersey School Boards Association provides support in the form of resources, training, and advocacy to help board members tackle the challenges of boardsmanship efficiently and effectively.

Pursuant to the School Ethics Act, every newly elected school board member is required to take Governance I Mandated Training within the first 90 days of taking office. New board members may fulfill their training requirements through the weekend orientation program, in-person one-day programs, or online.

New Board Member Orientation Weekend gives participants a unique opportunity to work in small-group settings with veteran board members and includes more informational sessions than other formats. This program is entirely free. The costs, including all meals, materials, and hotel stay, are underwritten by a grant from the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey (ELFNJ).

NJSBA will host two New Board Member Orientation Weekends: one in January and one in February. Both programs will be held at the Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center in Plainsboro Township, NJ.

There is a limit of two members per district for this weekend training, with a total limit of 100 registrants per weekend. Openings are expected to fill up quickly. Early registration is encouraged.

Registration for mandated training must be completed online by your school business administrator. Please get in touch with your district office to register. All attendees must have a district email address and will need to be added to the census by the business administrator (with a start date of Jan. 1, 2026).