Back to School Staff Orientations & Trainings – Issues for School Districts to Consider

Posted · Add Comment

By Sandra L. Jacques, Esq., LL.M.
sjacques@njpsa.org

August 2025

Traditionally, School Districts provide In-Service Orientations and Trainings for their staff during the last week or two before the first day of school.  This article provides a listing of the required trainings, as well as suggestions of additional training that would be beneficial to incorporate into your PD plans.  Another issue addressed concerns the staff that rarely receive “professional development” training, even though they are also in need of a review of District policies and procedures.

General Staff Training Requirements

New Jersey requires specific professional development training to occur within Districts.  See  New Jersey Professional Development Requirements in Statute and Regulations.  At this NJDOE website, the trainings are sorted into the following categories:

Health

Specific trainings for School Physicians/Nurses are articulated on the NJDOE website.  Teaching staff annual training requirements include:  Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drug Prevention Intervention; Asthma; Bloodborne Pathogens; and Communicable Diseases.  Additionally, training for Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders (Paul’s Law), also includes all staff working with school-sponsored programs outside of the regular school day. (N.J.S.A. 18A :40-12.35(d)1, 2).  Paul’s Law Training must include a Department of Health approved on-line or in-person course of instruction provided by a nonprofit national organization.

Trainings required for specific staff include:

  • All new CTE staff and students, prior to working/participating in CTE, must receive training;
  • Every school must have at least 5 school employees certified in CPR/AED as part of their action plan for responding to a sudden cardiac event;
  • A designated staff member trained in CPR/AED must be present for athletic events or team practices;
  • Diabetic Student Health Plans – Appropriate staff members, including staff working with school-sponsored programs outside of the regular school day, as provided in the individualized health care plan and the individualized emergency health care plan;
  • Epinephrine Administration, Glucagon, & Lyme Disease – Appropriate Staff.

Interscholastic Activities

  • Head Injury Safety – Athletic trainers, Coaches & School Physicians
  • School Physician Cardiac Assessment – School Physicians
  • Student Athlete Cardiac Assessment – Advanced Practice Nurses, Physician’s Assistants, & Physicians

Prevention: Suicide, Substance Abuse, Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying

HIB Training is required for Contracted Service Providers; Public School Teachers; School Employees; Volunteers with Student Contact (Chaperones, Classroom Visitors, Assistants for Athletics/Activities).  Annual staff training on district policy, and 2 hours per every 5 years on HIB prevention is required.

Training regarding the Recognition of Substance Abuse by Public School Instructional Teachers does not have a minimum requirement, but must be reviewed and updated annually.

Suicide Prevention Training of 2 hours per 5 years is required for Teaching Staff Members, including a member of the professional staff of any Board of Education who holds a valid and effective standard, provisional, or emergency teachers, including teachers administrators, school nurse and school athletic trainer. (N.J.S.A. 18A:1-1)  Instruction must be provided by a licensed health care professional with training and experience in mental health issues.  (See “Signs Matter Course” – https://tinyurl.com/LONJSuicidePreventionCourse

Reading Disabilities

“Instruction on screening, intervention, accommodation, and use of technology for students with reading disabilities, including dyslexia, for certain teaching staff members is required. (N.J.S.A. 18A:6-131)”  An annual two hours of ESL training is required for ESL Teachers; GenEd Teachers employed K-3; Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultants; Reading Specialists; Special Education and Basic Skills Teachers, and Speech-Language Specialists.

School Safety, Security and Code of Student Conduct

District Employees are required to receive annual PD regarding the Code of Student Conduct and School Safety.  The School Safety training must occur within 60 days of employment and must be reviewed and updated annually.  During their first year of employment, School Administrators must receive Gang Awareness Training.  There should also be training for All Staff regarding Law Enforcement Operations.  The remaining trainings in this category are:

  • Potentially Missing/Abused Children Reporting – Employees, Interns and Volunteers
    • New Employees as part of their orientation; and
    • Otherwise as determined by the District BOE;
  • School Safety Specialist – The superintendent in each school district must designate a school safety specialist. The school safety specialist must acquire certification through participating in the New Jersey School Safety Specialist Academy. (N.J.S.A. 18A:17-43.2 N.J.S.A. 18A:17-43.3) (See https://www.nj.gov/education/certification/credentials/safetyspecialist.shtml );
  • School Safety Teams – At least one PD opportunity in effective school climate improvement, practices, programs, or approaches. (N.J.S.A.18A:37-21(b) & (d));
  • Violence, vandalism, and alcohol and other drug abuse incident reporting – Annually for School Staff

Additional Topics

  • Bilingual Education – Academic content teachers whose classroom instruction is in English; all teachers; Administrators who supervise bilingual/ESL programs; Administrators/any personnel who observe/evaluate teachers of MLs – Time Not Specified;
  • Educator Evaluation #1 – Annually for Teaching Staff Members;
  • Educator Evaluation #2 – Supervisors who conduct observations of teachers, principals, assistant principals or vice-principals for the purpose of evaluation, refreshed annually and completed before conducting any observations;
  • Equity and Affirmative Action – Certificated and Non-Certificated Staff
    • All new personnel must receive PD training on educational equity issues within the first 90 days of employment;
    • All staff on a continuing basis, as determined by district.
  • Ethics, Law, Governance, Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying – Annual review of specific needs training for active school leaders serving on a permanent or interim basis whose positions require possession of the supervisor, principal or chief school administrator endorsement (Aligned with individual PD Plan for each Administrator) – All of the LEGAL ONE training falls under this broad umbrella, provided the training also aligns to the school leader’s individual Professional Development Plan;
  • Integrated Pest Management – Parents/Guardians, Staff, Students Teachers – Time Not Specified;
  • Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) – Staff members who identify learning, behavior and health difficulties through the I&RS process – Time Not Specified;
  • NJ SMART – Central Office Supervisors, School Administrators and Teachers – Unspecified time requirement;
  • Preschool – Early childhood education administrators/teachers/teacher assistants, in accordance with approved preschool education plan:
  • Special Education – Special Ed and General Ed staff that provide Special Education/Services in accordance with approved Special Education Plan:
  • Teacher Mentor – Mentor Teachers assigned to work 1:1 with novice provisional teachers prior to serving as mentors.

Key Considerations for Staff Training

Introductions

In addition to Principals, Vice Principals and Supervisors, it is also a best practice to have the following people introduce themselves and provide their contact information during full staff trainings:  Affirmative Action Officer; Title IX Coordinator; Anti-Bullying Coordinator; McKinney-Vento (Homeless) Liaison; Student Resource Officer (or your District’s equivalent); School Safety Specialist; Business Administrator; and anyone else that holds a “significant” position in your District.  Be sure to include these introductions (including name/title) on your dated Agenda for the session.  By doing this, you are showing staff that you are willing to provide help to anyone that needs it, regarding any issue.  In the unfortunate situation of a claim of discrimination/malfeasance, the District could demonstrate that all of these services were in place before the school year began, they were made known to the staff, and the District was willing to work with the person(s) to remedy any problems/issues, which in turn could reduce any District liability and/or financial burdens.

Current Events

Since the beginning of 2025, there has been confusion among staff regarding Federal and/or State laws applicability in NJ School Districts.  It may be helpful to clarify these issues for all staff, to avoid confusion or potential disciplinary issues during the school year.  I recommend incorporating the following NJDOE/NJAG Memos into such trainings:

Non-Certificated Staff Training Considerations

Paraprofessionals, Administrative Staff, Maintenance Staff, Cafeteria Personnel, Bus Drivers, Coaches and Activities Directors rarely receive PD beyond the essential performance training necessary for them to complete their respective jobs and tasks. However, they should be trained about the district’s protocols; reporting requirements; limitations on free speech in/out of school – particularly around students; sexual harassment of staff/students issues; Memorandum of Agreement requirements; and as appropriate, necessary Special Education and/or 504 (Health Plan) obligations and issues.

Administrative Staff in particular, should have training regarding Federal, State and District requirements pertaining to student attendance; FERPA; student residency (both U.S. and local town/city) and the documentation that may/may not be requested; and District and Legal Requirements regarding communicating with parents/legal guardians, DCPP and local law enforcement.  In addition to the Districts rules and requirements, Coaches need to review the 2025-26 NJSIAA Coaches Handbook –  https://tinyurl.com/2025-26NJSIAACoachesHandbook

Additional Suggested Topics

Common additional In-District trainings explain:  Staff and Student Free Speech Rights and Limitations, Social Media and Artificial Intelligence Issues, FERPA/Student Privacy Issues, and LGBTQ (and specifically) Transgender Student Issues.

Appropriate trainings for the ABSs, AAOs, and Title IX Coordinators are also beneficial to the District.  How can anyone in these positions fulfill their legal/District requirements if they do not know what they are?  Have they been trained as to how to conduct an investigation?  LEGALONE provides both In-District and online training for ABSs and AAOs.  (See https://tinyurl.com/LOABSCourse and https://tinyurl.com/LOAAOCourse).  Given the current Federal and State Issues regarding Title IX, LEGALONE is providing multiple trainings with the up to date status of Title IX throughout the 2025-2026 school year.

Ensure that Special Education Educators read all IEPs and 504 plans before day 1 of the school year.  Be sure to require signatures for everyone as they complete their reviews of the IEPs and 504 plans. A Section 504 refresher for the staff in charge of the 504 (Health) plans is also beneficial; as is training for applicable staff regarding I&RS Services.  Educators must also be aware as to how to identify potentially Gifted & Talented Students (https://www.nj.gov/education/standards/gifted/ ), as well as how to fulfill any/all Child Find Obligations (https://tinyurl.com/NJDOE-Child-Find ).

Finally, in addition to the topics noted above, the basics of HR and Employee Issues, including District Policies for Staff Absenteeism / Tardiness Issues, Leaves of Absence Requirements, and explaining your District’s process and policies regarding Progressive Discipline and/or potential Egregious Acts, is beneficial for employees.  It is suggested that the phrase “including but not limited to” be utilized whenever a “list of things” is provided during such trainings.

New Staff Hired After the First Day of School

While before the beginning of the school year is the time when many PD trainings occur, training for staff hired after the first day of school, with a few exceptions, often does not occur until the start of the following school year, and therefore could prove detrimental to a District both legally and financially.  Districts may wish to consider developing a “New Hire Academy”, and additional PD throughout the school year to ensure understanding of all of the information provided.

As evidenced above, Professional Development training is essential to have an informed staff, prepared to handle the myriad of situations, problems and various issues that arise during the course of a school year.  LEGALONE provides trainings for the majority of topics listed herein – please do not hesitate to contact LEGALONE (legalone@njpsa.org ) if you have any questions and/or are interested in our providing training for your District.