New Jersey Department of Education

Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

Statement of Assurance for Reopening Schools

This Statement of Assurance certifies that the Local Educational Agency (LEA) (school district, charter school, or renaissance school), receiving school pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:14-7.1, including an approved private school for students with disabilities (APSSD), or nonpublic school has developed and will implement a reopening plan for the 2020-2021 school year that adheres to the criteria listed below. This certification must be completed by any LEA or school that intends to open for in-person instruction or related services to any student or population of students. Responses will be collected by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) to ensure that the district or school has the policies and procedures in place to meet the minimum health and safety standards detailed in Executive Order 175 (Murphy) (2020) and NJDOE’s “The Road Back: Restart and Recovery Plan for Education” and other criteria. Responses will be considered government records eligible for disclosure under the Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.). Separately, an LEA or receiving school that is unable to open for in-person instruction in any grade level or facility  due to an inability to meet the health and safety requirements must complete and submit the Department’s Health and Safety Status Form regarding the health and safety measures needed to reopen for in-person instruction.

  • If an LEA or receiving school is making full-time or part-time in-person instruction available to all students, that district need only complete this Statement of Assurance.
  • If the LEA or receiving school is opening to full-time or part-time in-person instruction for some population of students, but not for others, the district must complete both forms.

To complete the form for your LEA or receiving school,  click here.  

To complete the form for your nonpublic school, click here.

The following information will be needed to complete the form:

  1. Name of Chief School Administrator or Lead Person (First and Last Name)
  2. Today’s Date
  3. Entity Type
    • School District or Charter/Renaissance School
    • APSSD
    • Nonpublic School
  4. County ID
  5. Select your Entity (Multiple Choice)
  6. Address of Entity
  7. Telephone #
  8. Email

 The form will ask the Chief School Administrator or Lead Person to certify to the following statements:

  1. The LEA, receiving school, or nonpublic school has policies and procedures in place to meet the minimum health and safety standards identified in Paragraph 2 of Executive Order 175 (Murphy) (2020), which were previously delineated in the Department of Education’s “Checklist for Reopening of School 2020-2021” and described in further detail in the NJDOE’s The Road Back, Restart and Recovery Plan for Education. The district will implement those policies to the best of its ability.

  2. The LEA, receiving school, or nonpublic school will institute enhanced social distancing and infection control protocols for music, choice and physical education classes that are conducted in indoor spaces, particularly where students are not (or are unable to) wear face coverings.

  3. The LEA or receiving school will, to the best of its ability, ensure that all students have internet access and a 1:1 electronic device per student that can be used for remote education.

  4. The LEA or receiving school will implement a schedule for the 2020-2021 school year that provides public school facilities for at least 180 days in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-9.

  5. The LEA or receiving school will implement a policy that allows for families to choose fulltime remote learning services for students, in accordance with the Department’s guidelines.

  6. The LEA or receiving school will ensure, consistent with N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.3, that each school day consists of at least four hours, except that one continuous session of two and one-half hours may be considered a full day in kindergarten.

  7. Certification: By selecting “yes” below, the Chief School Administrator or Lead Person certifies that all statements above are true and correct.

    • Yes – All statements above are true and correct
    • No

Reopening Statement of Assurance

    • To complete the form for your LEA or receiving school,  click here.  
    • To complete the form for your nonpublic school, click here.

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