Government Relations
NJPSA is your representative before the U.S. Congress, State Legislature, Governor’s Office, State Board of education and other federal and state agencies on all issues affecting the quality of public education in the state. NJPSA’s Government Relations (GR) staff analyzes, monitors, and participates in the legislative and regulatory process advocating on your behalf on proposed legislation, code provisions, and policies affecting public schools and school leaders.
The GR staff develops association positions and advocacy priorities through direct interaction with NJPSA members through NJPSA committees, member surveys, and meetings. By developing trusting relationships with the decision makers at all levels of government, the GR staff has access to those who ultimately write, pass, and uphold legislation that affect YOU, your staff, and your school. NJPSA’s GR team communicates these views formally through official testimony during legislative committee hearings and Board meetings, as well as informally through conversations with State and federal lawmakers.
Through NJPSA’s Political Action Committee (NJPSA-PAC), which is funded through member contributions, your Government Relations team is able to maintain a strong and consistent presence with our State Legislature, providing political contributions to help support elected officials who support educational leaders, students, and schools. The NJPSA does not endorse candidates.
NJPSA Action and Updates
New Grant Funding Available to Support Summer and Afterschool Meal Service in Select NJ Communities
The NJ Child Nutrition Fund, administered by Reinvestment Fund and supported by Robert Wood Johnson, has a new round of funding to support summer and afterschool meal service in select New Jersey communities. Equipment [...]
Statehouse Update Week of March 15th, 2021
The Assembly Education Committee met virtually on Wednesday, March 17th, and moved a number of significant pieces of legislation. NJPSA was there to provide testimony and make recommendations. A somewhat controversial bill concerning [...]
Spring Assessments Letter to Members
Dear NJPSA Members: Earlier today, the NJ Department of Education released a broadcast memo to the New Jersey education community providing guidance related to the issue of state standardized assessments which could occur [...]
Leaders of NJPSA, NJASA, and NJEA Ask Secretary Cardona for Waiver Support
Dear Secretary Cardona, Along with millions of our fellow Americans, we watched last Thursday night as President Joe Biden addressed the nation after Congress passed the American Rescue Plan. That historic law [...]
Top Guest Speakers Inform and Engage at NJPSA Membership Meeting and Legislative Conference
On Friday, March 12th, two hundred NJPSA members, invited friends and special guests convened via Zoom for the NJPSA Annual Membership Meeting and Legislative Conference. This year’s theme was Moving Toward the Reopening of [...]
Summary of the American Rescue Plan Signed Into Law This Week
After a historic, hours-long marathon session lasting into the weekend, the Senate voted to pass the $1.9T American Rescue Plan. The House passed the final package mid-week and President Biden signed this landmark legislation [...]
NJPSA Applauds Governor Murphy’s Proposed FY22 Budget
Increased Funding for Education and Full Pension Payment On February 23, Governor Phil Murphy delivered his annual budget address , proposing spending of $44.8 in Fiscal Year 2022. (Watch the Governor’s Address here.) This [...]
Legislative Wrap-Up Week of February 15th – February 19th 2021
The NJ State Senate The Senate met on Friday, February 19th for a Voting Session. Among the bills on the agenda were the following education related measures: S-2834 This bill provides that, [...]
Joint Statement by NJASA, NJPSA, and NJEA Supporting the Decision to Apply for Federal Waiver of Standardized Testing
This afternoon, Gov. Phil Murphy and Acting Commissioner of Education Angelica Allen-McMillan announced that the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) will apply for a waiver from this spring’s federally mandated standardized testing. Dr. [...]
Joint Statement of NJASA, NJPSA and NJEA on Standardized Testing Delay, Need for Full Wavier Application
Earlier today, the New Jersey Department of Education announced that it is delaying the beginning of this spring’s scheduled standardized testing window. Dr. Richard Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School [...]