April 15, 2025 – School Board Election
Information For School Board Candidates
Currently Being Updated. Please check back later.
Consider School Board Candidacy!
The work of a school board has become increasingly complex, but rest assured, if you’re elected or appointed to your school board, you won’t ‘go it alone.’ NJSBA is New Jersey’s only service organization whose sole mission is to train, assist and represent the state’s local boards of education. With the New Jersey School Boards Association offering support and training, you will find your term of service on your district board extremely rewarding.”
– Karen Cortellino, M.D, president, New Jersey School Boards Association
NJSBA has done its best to have the most accurate information on the April 2025 annual school board election. Pending legislation may affect the current information. NJSBA will make every effort to update the information if necessary as soon as it becomes available.
Notice About 2025 Nominating Petitions
IMPORTANT NOTICE: A-5117, a bill that would increase the number of signatures needed on a nominating petition for a board of education election from 10 to 25 signatures, has been passed by the state Assembly and has been amended by the state Senate to be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025. There is a strong possibility the bill could be enacted within the next few weeks.If enacted as currently written, a nominating petition for the April 2025 election and all future elections would need to include 25 signatures.
Out of an abundance of caution, the New Jersey School Boards Association recommends that candidates for April board of education elections obtain at least 25 signatures on their nominating petitions to avoid the possibility of having their petition invalidated for an insufficient number of signatures.
Important Background Information
Electronic Process for the Collection of Petition Signatures
On July 1, 2020, Gov. Murphy signed into law P.L.2020, c. 55 that would provide for an electronic process for the collection of petition signatures and their submission for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. On Jan. 25, 2021, Murphy issued Executive Order 216, which clarified electronic filing procedures for the upcoming April elections. Please contact the secretary of your local board of education for filing details.
Change of Date for School Board Elections
A 2012 law, P.L.2012, c. 78, gives communities the option to change the date of the school board member elections from the third Tuesday in April to the General Election in November. Although the majority of school districts have changed to November school elections, please check with your local board of education office to confirm the date of the 2025 school election in your community.
Individual and Joint Filing of Petitions
Legislation enacted in 2018 permits board of education candidates to circulate nominating petitions jointly and to be bracketed together on the ballot. Below are two sample petitions: one for an individual filing and one for joint filing.
Email addresses – A 2018 statute requires that a nominating petition for any state, county, school, or municipal elective public office include a functioning email address for the candidate.
Circular for Petitions
On March 31, 2014, the Honorable Mary Jacobson, A.J.S.C., Assignment Judge of Mercer County, issued an opinion and order in the case of Empower Our Neighborhood, et al. v. Guadagno, et al. The order states, in part, that a circulator for school board nomination petitions is not required to be a registered voter or resident of the jurisdiction of the candidate, but must otherwise be eligible to vote in New Jersey. Attorney General’s Ruling
Sample Petitions
Board candidates are reminded that some county boards of elections require the use of a county-specific nominating petition and other forms. Candidates should contact their district business administrator or county clerk for details concerning the proper form(s) to use for candidacy in the April 2025 school board elections, and for details about filing procedures and any new developments in signature collection and other filing requirements. NJ-County-Clerk-Contact-Information.
The deadline for submission of the 2025 April school board election nominating petitions to the school district business administrator for both individual and joint filings is Feb. 24, 2025.
Sample Petition – Individual (pending)
Sample Petition – Joint (pending)
2025_DOE_Election & Budget Calendar
Chronological Election Timeline (pending)
Information & Programs for School Board Candidates
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2025 General Election Timeline (nj.gov)
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DOE Election and Budget Calendar (nj.gov)
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New Jersey Division of Elections Website
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How to Become a School Board Member and Frequently Asked Questions
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Requirements of the New Jersey School Ethics Act
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Nov. School Election Sample Press Release 2024
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13 Things School Board Members Wish People Knew About Them
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School Governance Primer (video series and additional resources)
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NJSBA Brochure to Educate Public on Board Meetings Now Available in Spanish
Vote Poster – April 2025
Download for online posting:
Criminal History Records Check
Board members must complete a criminal history record check through the New Jersey Department of Education within 30 days of election or appointment. The 30-day period commences upon the certification of election results or upon confirmation of the appointment.
“What Board Members Need to Know When They’re Elected.”
If you are considering serving on your school board, take advantage of NJSBA’s online briefings that provide details about the responsibilities of serving on a local board of education. NJSBA’s online briefings include three videos that address leadership, legal issues, and the role of a board member. Candidates can also listen to a recorded online radio broadcast.
Campaign Reporting Requirements
Contacting the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC)
- All candidates for school board office must comply with the provisions of the New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act. For further information and downloadable reporting forms, contact the ELEC.
- 2022 NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission ELEC Reporting Dates
- Phone: (609) 292–8700
Webinar: What School Board Candidates Should Know About Campaign Finance Information and Disclosure
The work of a school board has become increasingly complex, but rest assured, if you’re elected or appointed to your school board, you won’t ‘go it alone.’ NJSBA is New Jersey’s only service organization whose sole mission is to train, assist and represent the state’s local boards of education. With the New Jersey School Boards Association offering support and training, you will find your term of service on your district board extremely rewarding.”
School board candidates, like others seeking elected office, must comply with New Jersey’s campaign finance laws. In this webinar we will discuss the information that needs to be maintained and disclosed, as well as the dates for submitting reports. We will also discuss some of the nuances concerning the receipt of contributions and the expenses associated with campaigns.
Online Candidate Briefings: What Candidates Need to Know When Elected
To help potential candidates understand the roles and responsibilities of school board members, the New Jersey School Boards Association offers online Candidate Briefings. These programs address the structure and responsibilities of local school boards in New Jersey. The programs include:
- “What Board Candidates Need to Know If Elected”
- “Being an Effective Board Member”
- “Legal Aspects of Board Service”
- “Roles and Responsibilities of Board Members”
Contact Ann Marie Smith, NJSBA’s Communications, at amsmith@njsba.org for more information.
