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
NJPSA Prioritizes Safety First in Testimony Before Assembly Education Committee on School Reopening
On Wednesday, July 22nd, NJPSA Executive Director Patricia Wright appeared as an invited guest before the Assembly Education Committee to discuss issues related to school reopening and the NJDOE’s Restart and Recovery Plan for [...]
NJPSA Mourns the Death and Celebrates the Life of U.S. Rep. John Lewis
Civil Rights icon and U.S. Representative John Lewis, who marched with Rev. Martin Luther King, participated in lunch-counter sit-ins, challenged segregated buses as one of the 13 original Freedom Riders, and crossed the Edmund [...]
Health Benefits Reform Legislation Signed Into Law for School Employees
By Debra Bradley and Robert Murphy On July 1, 2020 Governor Phil Murphy signed P.L. 2020, c. 44 (S-2273/A-20) into law, in the presence of legislative sponsors and NJEA leaders who brokered an [...]
Legislative Update: Week of July 6 – 10
A quieter week inTrenton this week saw the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee advance two measures and the Assembly Higher Education Committee receive testimony on issues related to the guidelines developed by [...]
NJ State Board of Ed Readopts Educator Evaluation Code Without Significant Changes
The New Jersey State Board of Education voted to readopt its regulations pertaining to Educator Evaluations. The NJ Department of Education had originally proposed to readopt the chapter with minor amendments but had signaled [...]
Legislative Update: Week of June 29th – July 3rd, 2020
Another busy week under the golden dome (yes, lawmakers really were under the golden dome as they returned for in-person voting on Monday) as we saw a budget extension bill and a new health [...]
Health Benefits Reform Legislation Moving Toward Finish Line
Legislation that would reform the health benefits options available to NJPSA members was favorably considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on June 26, 2020, an important step forward to a final vote in the [...]
Legislative Update: Week of June 22nd – 26th, 2020
Even though nothing seems normal about the world right now, one wouldn’t know it by looking at the legislative calendar. The legislature has been actively meeting remotely and is moving a flurry of legislation [...]
Legislative Action this Week: June 15th – 19th, 2020
The NJ Legislature continues to hold remote Committee Hearings and Voting Sessions. This week, the Senate passed a bill addressing hazing activities at middle, high and higher ed levels and a bill that [...]
The State of Summer Meals in NJ
Update: The State of Summer Meals in New Jersey The COVID pandemic has amplified the need to feed children healthy food in the summer when schools are closed and youth lack access to school [...]