The NJ Safe Schools Program (NJSS) now offers NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) approved college/university level equivalent “Instructional Strategies I-II courses for Teaching Students in Career-Technical Education & WBL.” Taking these two Instructional Strategies courses will get you on your way to receive one of the endorsements for a Cooperative Education Coordinator (Non-Hazardous#3465 and/or Hazardous #3464). These endorsement are applied for through the NJDOE.

Course Information

• Attendance is mandatory for all online live sessions from 3:30-6PM ET, excluding holidays.
• Flexibility (asynchronous) in completing course assignments and discussion boards on Rutgers Canvas learning management system (LMS) before and after mandatory online live sessions. 

Eligibility Criteria

For final confirmation on your eligibility and enrollment in the courses in 2023-2024, please complete and submit the eligibility survey. To access and submit the eligibility form, please visit https://www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=198538. If you are deemed eligible, you will be given access and the code to register for the courses.

If you have any further questions, feel free to email NJSS at cscbre@sph.rutgers.edu.

In the 2023-2024 school year, the NJ Safe Schools Program (NJSS) will continue implementing an expanded special grant funded initiative in partnership with the NJ Department of Education-Office of Career Readiness. The goal is to provide teachers free work-based learning (WBL, or formerly school-sponsored structured learning experiences) supervisory trainings for career and technical education (CTE) and WBL in non-hazardous occupations throughout NJ via targeted recruitment. Only an administrative fee will be charged.   

Eligible teachers are endorsed (certification credentials) in CTE, agricultural education, business, human services-cosmetology, allied health, and/or family and consumer sciences. This application is only available for those individuals that hold a NJ teacher certificate and a NJ CTE endorsement.

There will be six cohorts of trainings available between fall 2023 and summer 2024. Eligible participants are selected and assigned to cohorts using application form via PsychData.

The application form is now available. To access and submit the application form, please visit https://www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=198539.

Please note: If you previously completed the four required courses for WBL, formerly school-sponsored structured learning experiences (SLE), then you do not need to retake these courses in this capacity. If you apply and are not eligible for this opportunity, NJSS will contact you and provide more information to register for our regular work-based learning training cohorts, held through fall 2023 and again in winter-summer 2024.

The teachers eligible for this opportunity are required to take the four required courses for work-based learning supervision. An outline of the required courses for WBL supervision is below. The teachers eligible for this opportunity are also required to take two other online topical courses—otherwise offered for free to teachers and students statewide—on apprenticeships and cyber-safety/cyber-security.

A. Federal Wage & Hour and Child Labor Laws

Online course. This course is hosted on the Rutgers Canvas learning management system (LMS) and takes about 5-6 hours to complete. 

B. New Jersey Wage & Hour and 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.

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.

The regular schedule for work-based learning (WBL, formerly known as Structured Learning Experiences or SLE) trainings for certified teachers only who are 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 fall 2023.

Course costs and registration are now available on our website https://sph.rutgers.edu/njss/required-courses. 

Email: cscbre@sph.rutgers.edu 

There are two cohorts still available for registration for 2023, cohorts 5 and 6. Cohorts 5 and 6 will take place fall-early winter 2023. You must complete the four paid, required work-based learning online courses during the selected cohort’s time period. All trainings will be online, with asynchronous and synchronous parts to each of the four required WBL trainings.

The 2024 schedule will be released mid-late fall 2023.

A. Federal Wage & Hour and Child Labor Laws

Online course. This 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 2022-2023. 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.

In preparation for in-person attendance for the 2023-24 school year, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), Vaccine Preventable Disease Program is sending a reminder that all students must comply with age-appropriate immunization requirements set forth in NJ administrative code (N.J.A.C. 8:57-4). Students who are not up to date on immunization requirements and/or do not meet eligibility for provisional admission, should not be allowed to attend school in-person until immunization(s) are received or applicable exemptions are filed.

The FAQs document outlines immunization regulations pertaining to children attending school.

A back to school webinar from the NJDOH will take place on Friday, September 22, 2023. It will be a review of current immunization and school guidance. For more information and to register, click here.

The NJ Department of Human Services (NJDHS) Division of Disability Services (DDS) has recently updated its resources and publications page. Resources and publications can be accessed in both English and Spanish, and in audio formats.

Resources and publication can be found on the NJDHS-DDS Resources and Publications webpage.

The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Employment and Training Administration has recently launched Youth Employment Works to prioritize youth employment and workforce development.

This strategy will focus on efforts to deliver improved access to services and opportunities, increase commitment to youth and young adult career pathways across sectors, and offer guaranteed paid work experiences for all young people.

To learn more, visit Youth Employment Works Call to Action.

The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (USDOL-WHD) recently launched a new child labor webpage titled, "What jobs are off-limits for kids?" The webpage outlines different jobs kids under 18 are not permitted to perform under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Governor Murphy and the NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) announced a certificate fee holiday to support NJ educators. Effective July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, the fee holiday allows individuals seeking certification to waive the fees associated with educator certification applications, renewals, and related services. The goal of the fee holiday is to alleviate a financial burden for both current and aspiring educators throughout NJ.

Contact Information

Questions can be submitted directly to customer service staff via a service case within NJEdCert.

Customer Service Call Center: (609) 292-2070 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

NJ Safe Schools program offers Non-SLE General Occupational Safety and Health Courses for teachers and students. For 2023-2024, we encourage teachers and students to take advantage of these asynchronous, free, ~1.5-3- hour opportunities to augment in-person class and other online activities with your students. They can help meet curricular planning and implementation goals approved by district and school(s). Upon completing online courses, students and teachers receive a certification of completion for each course. Also, teachers will receive professional development units (PDU).

If you are interested in enrolling your students and yourself in any of the courses, please email cscbre@sph.rutgers.edu with an Excel spread sheet or Word table containing each student’s first name, last name and school administered (or formally accepted for tracking purposes) email address. 

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.”

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.