Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Student Conduct
Each district board of education is required to develop, adopt and implement a code of student conduct (CSC) that establishes standards, policies and procedures for positive student development and student behavioral expectations on school grounds, including on school buses or at school-sponsored functions, and, if determine appropriate by the board, conduct away from school grounds [N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1(a)]. Provided below are information and resources on the requirements for the CSC and the adoption, development and implementation of the CSC.
Statutes & Regulations
Statutes
All References below can be found at the New Jersey Legislature's website:
- N.J.S.A. 18A:6-1, Corporal punishment of pupils
- N.J.S.A. 18A:11-7. Findings, declarations relative to school dress codes
- N.J.S.A. 18A:11-8. Adoption of dress code policy for school permitted
- N.J.S.A. 18A:11-9. Prohibition of gang-related apparel
- N.J.S.A. 18A:37. Discipline of Pupils
- N.J.S.A. 18A:38. Article 3. Compulsory Education
Regulations
The following regulations can be found on the NJDOE Administrative Code page.
- Alternative Education Programs under Programs to Support Student Development
Subchapter 8. (6A: 16-9) - Intervention and Referral Services (N.J.A.C. 6A:16-8) under the Programs to Support Student Development Chapter (N.J.A.C. 6A:16) of Administrative Code
- N.J.A.C. 6A :3, Controversies and Disputes
- N.J.A.C. 6A :4, Appeals
- N.J.A.C. 6A:14-2.8, Discipline/suspension/expulsion (special education)
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-4, Procedures for Alcohol or Other Drug Abuse Intervention
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7, Student Conduct
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1, Code of student conduct
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.2, Short-term suspensions
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.3, Long-term suspensions
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.4, Expulsion
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.5, Conduct away from school grounds
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.6, Attendance
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.7, Intimidation, harassment and bullying
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.9, Student Records and confidentiality
- N.J.A.C. 6A:32, School District Operations
- N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8, Student Attendance and Accounting
Reports
- Incidents and Discipline Problems Reported by Public Schools, Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2021
- Commissioner’s Annual Report to the Education Committees of the Senate and General Assembly on Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse
- National Center for Education Statistics
Resources
- Code of Student Conduct Compliance Checklist (PDF | Word)
- County Offices of Education (County Executive Superintendents) of the New Jersey Department of Education
- Model Policy and Guidance for Prohibiting Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying on School Property, at School-Sponsored Functions and on School Buses
- Parent Rights in Special Education (PRISE)
- Intervention And Referral Services (I&RS)
- School Discipline and Its Impact on the Learning Environment (NCSSLE)
Includes information on school discipline practices and features related resources. - Comprehensive Positive School Discipline Resource Guide.
In March 2014, the New Jersey State Board of Education re-adopted regulations (N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5) to that reestablished new standards and parameters for addressing student conduct issues and concerns that result in suspensions or expulsions. Rather than create an entirely new body of mandates, the regulations primarily organize and apply the requirements regarding student conduct from a diverse array of case law, statutes and other regulations. The requirements for addressing student conduct problems, tools for assessing and developing local student conduct policies, procedures and resources for implementing effective practices are provided below.
Data Collection
- NJ SMART Resources &Training
- NJ Department of Education Student Safety Data System (SSDS)
Reports
- Incidents and Discipline Problems Reported by Public Schools, Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2021
- Commissioner’s Annual Report to the Education Committees of the Senate and General Assembly on Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse
- National Center for Education Statistics
Resources
- Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning
- County Offices of Education (County Superintendents) of the New Jersey Department of Education
- Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance, New Jersey Department of Education
- Parent Rights in Special Education (PRISE)
- Strategies to Support Students Returning to School After Confinement
- Student Discipline Policies (ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management)
Statutes & Regulations
Statutes
- All References below can be found at the New Jersey Legislature's website:
- N.J.S.A. 18A:6-1, Corporal punishment of pupils
- N.J.S.A. 18A:12-21 et seq., School Ethics Act
- N.J.S.A. 18A:37. Discipline of Pupils
- N.J.S.A. 18A:38. Article 3. Compulsory Education
- Frequently Asked Questions: Legal Processes
Regulations
The following codes can be found at Title 6A - Current Rules:
- N.J.A.C. 6A:14-2.8, Discipline/suspension/expulsion (special education)
- N.J.A.C. 6A:3-1.1 et seq.
(Filing a Petition of Appeal with the Bureau of Controversies and Disputes.) - N.J.A.C. 6A:3, Controversies and Disputes
- N.J.A.C. 6A:4, Appeals
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-4, Procedures for Alcohol or Other Drug Abuse Intervention
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7, Student Conduct
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.1, Code of student conduct
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.2, Short-term suspensions
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.3, Long-term suspensions
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.4, Expulsion
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.5, Conduct away from school grounds
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.6, Attendance
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.7, Harassment, intimidation, and bullying
- N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.8, Student records and confidentiality
- N.J.A.C. 6A:32, School District Operations
Government Agencies
- Office for Civil Rights, United States Department of Education
(Regional Office for New Jersey) - Office of Controversies and Disputes, New Jersey Department of Education
- Office of Special Education, New Jersey Department of Education
(Disputes arising under the laws governing special education.)