School Board Notes

The law effectively provides a four-month extension to the digital advertisement law that was initially set to expire March 1, 2025.

Voters went to the polls for a special school election March 11, voting on numerous school construction questions and other proposals.

As it relates to DEI programs, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights clarified that whether a policy or program violates Title VI does not depend on how it is titled, but rather on whether the program treats students differently based on race, engages in racial stereotyping, or creates a hostile environment for students of particular races.

It is critical to note, and as the guidance makes clear, “nothing in the ‘Dear Colleague’ letter or FAQ changes existing law and well-established legal principles that encourage – and even require – schools to promote educational opportunity for students of all backgrounds.”

On March 10, Kevin Dehmer was sworn in as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education following a ceremonial swearing-in hosted by Gov. Phil Murphy at the State House.

Gov. Phil Murphy and Speaker Craig Coughlin condemned the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to eliminate the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.

At its March meeting, the New Jersey State Board of Education heard updates and took action on numerous items.

The New Jersey Department of Education recently issued an advisory with information on the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment cut scores for the class of 2026.

This initiative emphasizes the importance of working with state education agencies to review local dispute resolution practices and implement capacity-building activities aimed at reducing formal mediation and due process requests received by the OSE.

Public testimony on the proposed amendments is scheduled to be held April 2, 2025. Registration for public testimony will open March 13, 2025, and close at noon March 27, 2025.

Randall E. Solomon, executive director of Sustainable Jersey for Schools and the director of the Sustainability Institute at The College of New Jersey, was a recent guest on “Education Matters.”

The New Jersey School Boards Association will host its virtual Spring Conference on Friday, May 30, offering more than 20 sessions.

Highlight your school’s exemplary programs and services for students with special needs by entering the Innovations in Special Education Award program.

Notice is hereby provided of a meeting of the New Jersey School Boards Association Resolutions Subcommittee. The meeting will be held remotely Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 6 p.m.

The New Jersey School Boards Association is seeking an associate director of marketing, who will report to the senior director of connection.

The New Jersey School Boards Association is seeking a manager of communications and publications to become a key member of its Communications Department.