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
Requiring School Staff to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine
By Robert Schwartz, Esq. and David Nash, Esq. Employers may require their staff to take the COVID-19 vaccine and show proof of vaccination. This is the conclusion drawn from the guidance that was [...]
Legislative Update Week of January 11th – January 15th, 2021
On Monday of this week, both Houses of the Legislature met for voting sessions. The Senate advanced A-4461, a bill that would require the State to enter into contracts and coordinate with certain cooperative [...]
Governor Signs Executive Order Affecting 2020-2021 School Year
Today, Governor Phil Murphy announced that he is signing an executive order that will implement new policies for the 2020-2021 school year as follows: 1. The graduation assessment test requirement for all 12th [...]
New law: P.L.2020, c.153 Allocates Amistad Commission in but not of DOE; requires commission to elect chairperson and appoint executive director; requires public schools to include instruction on accomplishments and contributions of African Americans to American society.
Legislation amending state law guiding the New Jersey Amistad Commission was signed into law by the Governor this week. The Amistad Commission is a 23-member panel named in honor of the enslaved Africans [...]
Action by the NJ Legislature This Week December 14th – December 18th, 2020
Both Houses of the Legislature met for Voting Sessions this week. Pursuant to P.L. 2020, c.2, the voting sessions were held electronically. Both houses voted unanimously, and for the second time, to postpone QSAC [...]
Action by the NJ Legislature This Week December 7th – December 11th, 2020
The Senate Education Committee met this week. The agenda covered a broad array of topics including a bill to reinforce and intensify New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying of Rights law, changing all references of “security aid” [...]
NJPSA Mourns the Passing of Mark Biedron
NJPSA is saddened by the tragic news that Mark Biedron, former president of the New Jersey State Board of Education from 2014 to 2017, died on Friday, November 6. On behalf of our 8,000 [...]
Legislative Update Week of October 26, 2020
Both houses of the Legislature convened in Trenton for Voting Sessions this week. The General Assembly passed three bills impacting our schools and NJPSA members. The first of those bills was an important [...]
NJPSA Member Advocacy is Successful Again! Legislation Mandating Multi-Year Revolving Employment Contracts for Coaches HELD in Senate for the Second time. ***Thank you for your Outreach***
NJPSA Supports our Coaches but Opposes This Legislation. This week, NJPSA members once again successfully advocated to prevent the advancement of legislation that would have secured three-year employment contracts for high school [...]
Legislature Moves Mandatory Depression Screening, Discipline Reporting, Health Benefits Clean-up Legislation and Governor Vetoes NJQSAC Extensions
By Debra Bradley, Esq. The State Legislature had an active day on October 22 with 10 legislative committees meeting and 62 bills considered. Additionally, certain committees heard public testimony on topics ranging from stormwater [...]