Board of Education Policies
Setting policy is a primary responsibility of the local board of education, and contributing to the discussion on policy enables board members to have a positive impact on the schools.
A policy is a broad rule or a statement of belief. It guides the school district administration in managing operations. School boards adopt policies on a myriad of issues, ranging from curriculum and student discipline to staff conduct and the use of school facilities by community organizations.
NJSBA’s policy unit provides assistance to boards in formulating district policies and ensuring that districts are compliant with federal and state laws and regulations. Visit the NJSBA policy webpage at the link below.
Below are additional selected resources about board of education policies.
NJSBA’s Critical Policy Reference Manual
A well-maintained policy manual enables the board to stay in compliance with law, provides crucial guidance to the administration for dealing with day-to-day school operations, and provides direction when problems and crises arise. NJSBA’s Critical Policy Reference Manual is one of the Association’s most-used resources.
A well-maintained policy manual establishes the philosophy of the board, the goals of the educational program and details the means to achieve those goals.”
– School Leader, Spring 2021
Policy Resources and Alerts
NJSBA has published articles on a wide range of policy-related topics that can help boards understand how to develop and maintain their district policy manual. Policy Alerts make districts aware of changes in law or regulation that may require changes to the manual. Explore these selected articles on policy:
- Policy Update: An Introduction to the Critical Policy Reference Manual.
- Best Practices for Board Policy Committees.
- NJSBA Policy Alert: An Update to the Sick Leave Policy.
- NJSBA Policy Alert: Threat Assessment Team Policy.
- Policy Update-Removing Outdated Policies from Your Manual.
- Policy Update: An Overview of Policies on Student Conduct and Discipline.
Featured Resources: Videos
NJSBA has posted several videos featuring our policy experts. Explore these resources further:
