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June 2024
Volume 16 Issue 14
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I. Ongoing Priority
Teacher/Supervisor Trainings
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A. 2024 Required Trainings for Supervising Students in Work-Based Learning: Schedule and Registration
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The regular schedule for work-based learning (WBL, formerly known as Structured Learning Experiences or SLE) trainings for certified teachers applying for a cooperative education coordinator certificate-hazardous occupations, a cooperative education coordinator certificate, or who are appointed to coordinate WBL placements has been released for 2024.
Course costs and registration are now available on our website: https://sph.rutgers.edu/njss/required-courses.
Email: cscbre@sph.rutgers.edu
Six cohorts will be available for registration, including a summer cohort. The first cohort begins January 2024 and last cohort ends in November 2024. You must complete the four paid, required work-based learning online courses during the selected cohort’s time period and select the same live session day for all courses. All trainings will be online, with asynchronous and synchronous parts to each of the four required WBL trainings.
A. Federal Wage & Hour and Child Labor Laws
Online course. This initial course is hosted on the Rutgers Canvas learning management system (LMS) and takes about 5-6 hours to complete.
B. New Jersey Wage & Hour/Child Labor Laws
Online course for 2023-2024. This course has two parts. First, the online course on the Rutgers Canvas learning management system (LMS), then the live session hosted on Rutgers WebEx.
C. OSHA 10 Plus
Online course for 2023-2024. This course has three parts. First, the “OSHA 10 General Industry” online course on CareerSafe, then the NJDOE 2-hour Safety and Health overview on the Rutgers Canvas learning management system (LMS), and lastly the live session hosted on Rutgers WebEx. A memo with additional details will be emailed to participants upon registration.
D. Designing & Implementing Student Training Plans
Online course for 2023-2024. This course has two parts. First, the online course on the Rutgers Canvas learning management system (LMS), including the completion of the mandatory day two field assignment, then the live session hosted on Rutgers WebEx.
Note: In 2023-2024, we are accepting payment by credit card via our registration system, ANCOR. Courses paid by credit card are eligible for a full refund upon cancellation in 2023-2024. There are no refunds for courses paid by personal check or district/school check in advance; however, you may move to another open training date for the same course in the same calendar year.
If you must, for a documented reason agreed to by NJ Safe Schools Program, delay completion of course(s), then we strongly suggest a delay of one cohort time period. We will handle specific requests on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with the NJDOE.
Please note "late registration" or "last chance registration" fees will apply.
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| New Jersey Wage and Hour and Wage Payment and Child Labor Laws, Regulations, and Hazardous Orders
(Online Course - $145) | OSHA 10 Plus
(Online Course - $189) | Designing and Implementing Student Training Plans
(Online Course - $375) | | Cohort 5
July 8, 2024 – Aug. 29, 2024
Live Session: Aug. 14 or 21, 2024
Register Here
Deadline for registration:
July 15, 2024 | Cohort 5
July 8, 2024 – Aug. 29, 2024
Live Session: Aug. 14 or 21, 2024
Register Here
Deadline for registration:
July 15, 2024 | Cohort 5
July 8, 2024 – Aug. 29, 2024
Live Session: Aug. 14 or 21, 2024
Register Here
Deadline for registration:
July 15, 2024 | | Cohort 6
Oct. 7, 2024 – Nov. 25, 2024
Live Session: Nov. 13 or 20, 2024
Register Here
Deadline for registration:
Oct. 14, 2024 | Cohort 6
Oct. 7, 2024 – Nov. 25, 2024
Live Session: Nov. 13 or 20, 2024
Register Here
Deadline for registration:
Oct. 14, 2024 | Cohort 6
Oct. 7, 2024 – Nov. 25, 2024
Live Session: Nov. 13 or 20, 2024
Register Here
Deadline for registration:
Oct. 14, 2024 | | |
II. Resources and Opportunities
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A. NJDOL Wants to Hear From You! | |
The New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) and Workforce Development is creating resources to help workers under the age of 25 learn more about their rights and benefits in the workplace.
You can help develop these important materials by taking a brief, anonymous survey. It will take about five minutes to complete.
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B. NJDOE Office of Special Education: Summer Learning Institute
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The NJ Department of Education's (NJDOE) Office of Special Education will host the 2nd summer learning institute at its Learning Resource Centers. This year's theme, "Progress through Partnership," will highlight the importance of collaboration and shared expertise in advancing educational practices and improving student outcomes.
Professional learning opportunities will take place between July 8th and July 26th. In-person sessions will be held from 9AM to 12PM and virtual sessions will be held from 10:30AM to 12PM. Please visit the website for more information about trainings, registration, and other professional supports available this summer.
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C. Join a NJDOE Community of Practice
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The NJ Department of Education's (NJDOE) is organizing several communities of practice (COP) for next school year around different specialties, including educators who work in programs for 18-21-year-olds. You can request to become a member of this COP if you are working with this population of students by filling out this form.
To learn more about other COP opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year, please refer to the memo.
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D. NJ Heat Hub Information on Heat Exposure |
It's important to remember the health impacts from heat exposure, especially during heat waves. Heat Hub NJ provides a one stop shop for residents to learn about heat health and how to stay safe. The attached flyer (in English and Spanish) promotes Chill Out NJ, a new interactive mapping application to help people find cool places around the state to get relief from the heat.
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E. U.S. DHHS-OCR Final Rule Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Disability
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In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), through its Office for Civil Rights (OCR), finalized a rule prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability. This rule advances equity and bolsters protections for people with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and is U.S. DHHS’s latest action related to Executive Order 14091, “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.” Among other provisions, this final rule ensures accessible web content and mobile apps, e.g., educational technology tools. Overall, this rule assists in protecting people with disabilities from experiencing discrimination in any program or activity receiving funding from U.S. DHHS because of their disability. For more information and details, please see the official press release.
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F. NJDOL Online Application Process for Minor Working Papers | |
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) launched a new online application on June 1, 2023 for teenagers who need working papers. Schools are no longer involved, but minors, employers, and caregivers all play a role and receive email notifications when it’s their turn to act. The minor and employer will receive an email letting them know the application has been approved or rejected. The NJDOL Minor Working Papers (MWP) Team is responsible for administering this digitized process.
Minors who need working papers to start a job – and any employer who hires a worker under age 18 in New Jersey must visit:
MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov to register and follow the prompts to complete the application.
In summary, the process is:
- Employers receive a unique 8-digit code when they register, which they share with every minor they hire.
- Once Minor receives an offer of employment, they complete the online application, entering their caregiver’s name and email address, and the employer’s 8-digit code, which links the application to a specific employer.
- Emails prompt the employer and caregiver to complete their portions of the application and sign off. Caregivers will be asked to upload a copy of a birth certificate, passport or other official document verifying the minor’s age.
- The minor can begin working when their application is approved.
Please refer to the link below for MWP quick reference contact and helpful information:
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III. Permanent NJ Safe Schools Free Online Resources
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A. NJ Safe Schools Program Publishes Two New Journal Articles
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The NJ Safe Schools Program (NJSS) recently published two new journal articles. Read more below. | |
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An article titled "Assessing Indicators of Mental Health Distress Among New Jersey High School Teachers During the COVID-19 Pandemic" was published in January 2024 for a special COVID-19 theme issue of the European Society of Medicine Medical Research Archives journal. This preliminary study presents insights concerning potential mental health effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on New Jersey teachers.
Campbell, M. L., Aggarwal, J., & Shendell, D. G. (2024). Assessing Indicators of Mental Health Distress Among New Jersey High School Teachers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Medical Research Archives, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v12i1.4923
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An article titled "Perspectives and Attitudes of Newer New Jersey High School Teachers towards Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting Consumer Products Used in School Classrooms" was published in February 2024 for a special issue of the MDPI International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health journal. A subset of newer teachers shared experiences regarding safety and health while working in school-based settings through a series of online surveys.
Aggarwal, J., Campbell, M. L., Rehman, M., Nguyen, K. T., & Shendell, D. G. (2024). Perspectives and Attitudes of Newer New Jersey High School Teachers towards Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Consumer Products Used in School Classrooms. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(2), 211.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21020211
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B. Frequently Asked Questions on the NJ Safe Schools Website | |
We have a frequently asked question (FAQ) section on the NJ Safe Schools (NJSS) website. There are over 50 FAQs on the list covering a range of topics in four subcategories pertaining to work-based learning (WBL), previously known in NJ as school sponsored structured learning experiences (SLEs). Questions about SLE supervision eligibility, SLE program set-up, worksite placement considerations, required paperwork and on-site workplace concerns for students in SLEs are included. The list of FAQs was compiled from actual questions submitted by NJ teachers/supervisors. Each of the responses previously appeared in print or electronic newsletters through NJSS or the “SLE info share listserv.” | |
C. NJ Safe Schools Manual
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The NJ Safe Schools manual reflects both federal and/or State of NJ codes pertaining to the National Fire Protection Agency and National Electrical Code, Hazard Communication Standard, etc. The Manual includes a collection of self-inspection checklists covering environmental, health and safety regulations for secondary occupational and career orientation programs in New Jersey public schools and private schools for the disabled. It is available to access online and meets Accessibility Guidelines. It is easily navigated via a home page description- -Checklists, Support checklists, Appendices (download to computer, tablet or smartphone as PDF files).
Note: The NJ Safe Schools Program released Manual update #43 for 2021 in late August. To support NJ school districts and schools re-opening local and county campuses, classrooms, gyms, laboratories and shops in August-September 2021 and 2022 for in-person learning (general education, work-based learning, extracurricular activities, etc.), we wanted to remind our colleagues in administration and designated persons roles (facilities, operations and maintenance, Right to Know, etc.) of resources available online for free to assist walk-through assessments. To view a copy of the memo released regarding the Manual update, please click here.
Final Note: The Manual does not replace responsibility of each school district and school to provide students with a safe and healthful environment, i.e., beyond hazards outlined in Manual.
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D. Online Incident Reporting Mandated by State of NJ Law
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The New Jersey Safe Schools/NJDOE Incident Reporting Form for Career and Technical Education Programs, Cooperative Education Experiences, and Structured Learning Experiences is online.
Schools are required by code (N.J.A.C. 6A:19-6.5) to submit their incident report online. You can download a copy of the newly updated “Guidance Manual for Completing the Incident Reporting Form” on this site. Note: The Guidance Manual was last updated as of December 2018.
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E. Official State and Federal Resources for Youth/Young Adult Workers, COVID-19, etc.
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Official State
Guidance & Resources
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Official Federal
Guidance & Resources
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Contacting NJ Safe Schools Program | | | | |
