Category: School Law

Appellate Division Rules NJ Universities Immune from COVID Suit Over Remote Instruction

Appellate Division Rules NJ Universities Immune from COVID Suit Over Remote Instruction

Two New Jersey universities do not need to reimburse students for transitioning from in-person classes to total online instruction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent decision by the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court. In Mueller v. Kean University, the appeals court held that

NJ Supreme Court Rules Negligence Standard Applies to High School Sports Injury Suit

NJ Supreme Court Rules Negligence Standard Applies to High School Sports Injury Suit

In Dennehy v. East Windsor Regional Board of Education (A-36-21/086350) (Decided October 26, 2022), the Supreme Court of New Jersey addressed the standard of care that should apply to a coach’s decision to allow a high school field hockey team to practice in an area adjacent to an ongoing soccer

Will New Jersey School Districts Be Required to Go Green?

Will New Jersey School Districts Be Required to Go Green?

As New Jersey takes steps to transition to clean energy, school districts may soon be required to create their own plans to go green. The New Jersey Senate recently advanced legislation requiring school districts to include environmental sustainability plans in the long-range facilities plans submitted to the Commissioner of Education.

Controversy Over Sexual Health in New Jersey’s Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health & Physical Education

How to teach students about sexual health has become a controversial topic in recent years, and New Jersey is no exception. As the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education (NJSLS-CHPE) are debated in the media, it is essential that local school districts understand how the standards

Gov. Murphy Signs Bill Extending Deadline for COVID-19 Special Education Claims

Gov. Murphy Signs Bill Extending Deadline for COVID-19 Special Education Claims

Gov. Phil Murphy recently signed legislation extending the period of time a parent, guardian, or local educational agency has to request a due process hearing regarding the education of a child with disabilities during a COVID-19 school closure or during periods of virtual, remote, hybrid, or in-person instruction. The extension is

What Happens When New Jersey’s School Mask Mandate Ends on March 7?

What Happens When New Jersey’s School Mask Mandate Ends on March 7?

On February 7, 2022, Governor Phil Murphy announced that masks and facial coverings will no longer be mandated for students, staff, or visitors in schools and childcare centers effective March 7, 2022. Going forward, local school districts can decide whether to implement their own universal masking policies. COVID Metrics Prompt Lifting

Gov. Murphy Signs Bill Incentivizing School District Regionalization

New Jersey has about 600 public school districts, which exceeds the total number of municipalities in the state. Changes could be coming under a school district regionalization bill Gov. Phil Murphy recently signed into law.  The new law, Senate Bill No. 3488, modifies certain procedures pertaining to school district regionalization,

Is New Jersey Poised to Remove Its Residency Requirement for Teachers?

Is New Jersey Poised to Remove Its Residency Requirement for Teachers?

Efforts are underway to eliminate the requirement that New Jersey teachers reside in the state. Under Senate Bill 4203, public school teachers and other school employees would be exempt from the residency requirement. New Jersey First Law The New Jersey First Act, enacted in 2011, established residency requirements for most