Department of Education

School Ethics Commission

School Board Member Training Requirements

The School Ethics Act (“Act”) has, since its adoption, required that new board members complete training during the first year of their first term. In 2004, the Act was amended to include charter school trustees in this an all other mandates set forth in the Act. N.J.S.A. 18A:12-23.1. In 2007, the Act was further amended at N.J.S.A. 18A:12-33 by the School District Accountability Act, P.L. 2007, c.53, to require each board member to complete a training program on school district governance in each of the subsequent two years of the board member’s first term of service with a board. N.J.S.A. 18A:12-33 was also amended to require all board members to complete an advanced training program within one year after each re-election or re-appointment. Thus, the statute requires:

(1) Each newly elected or appointed board member shall complete during the first year of the member's first term a training program to be prepared and offered by the New Jersey School Boards Association, in consultation with the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, and the Department of Education, regarding the skills and knowledge necessary to serve as a local school board member. The training program shall include information regarding the school district monitoring system established pursuant to P.L.2005, c.235, the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum, and the five key components of school district effectiveness on which school districts are evaluated under the monitoring system: instruction and program; personnel; fiscal management; operations; and governance.

(2) The board member shall complete a training program on school district governance in each of the subsequent two years of the board member's first term.

(3) Within one year after each re-election or re-appointment to the board of education, the board member shall complete an advanced training program to be prepared and offered by the New Jersey School Boards Association. This advanced training program shall include information on relevant changes to New Jersey school law and other information deemed appropriate to enable the board member to serve more effectively.

New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA)

March 2, 2009 Memorandum regarding Enforcement of Required Board Member/Charter School Trustees Training

Board Member and Charter School Trustee Training Requirements – Chart 2009

Board Member Training Questions and Answers

(1)	Each newly elected or appointed board member shall complete during the first year of the member's first term a training program to be prepared and offered by the New Jersey School Boards Association, in consultation with the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, and the Department of Education, regarding the skills and knowledge necessary to serve as a local school board member. The training program shall include information regarding the school district monitoring system established pursuant to P.L.2005, c.235, the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum, and the five key components of school district effectiveness on which school districts are evaluated under the monitoring system: instruction and program; personnel; fiscal management; operations; and governance.

(2)	The board member shall complete a training program on school district governance in each of the subsequent two years of the board member's first term.

(3)	Within one year after each re-election or re-appointment to the board of education, the board member shall complete an advanced training program to be prepared and offered by the New Jersey School Boards Association. This advanced training program shall include information on relevant changes to New Jersey school law and other information deemed appropriate to enable the board member to serve more effectively.