The NJSBA has added or updated the following policies:
2224.1 Title IX –Sex-Based Discrimination – New policy, regulation and for compliance with Title IX, 20 U.S.C. § 1681, and its related regulations, 34 CFR 106.1 et seq. Title IX requires that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, except as may be permitted by applicable law. Education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance as defined by Title IX would include the education programs and activities of a public school district. The Title IX regulations, among other requirements, require a district to notify designated persons that the district does not discriminate on the basis of sex in district-operated programs and activities, and it is prohibited by Title IX and its regulations from discriminating in such a manner. Additionally, a district must prominently display the contact information for the Title IX coordinator as specified in regulation. Moreover, Title IX and its regulations require a district to adopt and publish grievance procedures providing for prompt and equitable resolution of student and employee complaints alleging Title IX violations as well as a grievance process for formal complaints under Title IX. A district must notify specified persons of the grievance procedures and grievance process, including how to report or file a complaint of sex discrimination, how to report or file a formal sexual harassment complaint, and how the district will respond.
3542.2 School Meal Program Arrears – The content of this policy was updated for compliance with P.L. 2020, c.29 which amended N.J.S.A. 18A:33-21. Changes include the addition of content requiring the district to communicate directly with the parent/guardian concerning the arrears and not the student. In addition, districts shall not:
- Publicly identify or stigmatize a student who cannot pay for a school meal bill that is in arrears, for example, by requiring that the student sit at a separate table or wear a wristband, hand stamp, or identifying mark or by serving the student an alternative meal;
- Require a student who cannot pay for a school meal bill that is in arrears to do chores or other work to pay for the school breakfast or school lunch; or
- Require a student to discard a school breakfast or school lunch after it has been served because of the student’s inability to pay for a school breakfast or a school lunch or because money is owed for previously provided meals
6140 Curriculum Adoption – The content of this policy was updated for compliance with N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.36a (P.L. 2021, c.32) which requires each school district to incorporate instruction on diversity and inclusion in an appropriate place in the curriculum for students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.
You may directly download this policy update from the Critical Policy Reference Manual (CPRM) district or charter versions or the Policy Update List on your password protected Policy Resources webpage. You may also contact a policy consultant at (609) 278-5268 or email Jean Harkness or Steve McGettigan, Policy Manager. An updated regulation is also available upon request.