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September 2024
Volume 17 Issue 1
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I. Ongoing Priority
Teacher/Supervisor Trainings
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In the 2024-2025 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 will represent the State of NJ, with equal opportunity by region (north, central, and south) and additional opportunity for teachers in larger urban/suburban populations serving historically underrepresented minority, low-middle income students. This application is only available for those individuals who hold a standard NJ teaching certificate and a NJ CTE endorsement. In 2024-2025, NJSS is expanding eligibility criteria.
There will be five cohorts of trainings available between fall 2024 and summer 2025. 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=199910.
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 throughout 2025.
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 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 2024-2025. 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 2024-2025. 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 2024-2025. 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.
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B. Fall 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 is available for fall 2024.
Course costs and registration are now available on our website: https://sph.rutgers.edu/njss/required-courses.
Email: cscbre@sph.rutgers.edu
There is one cohort still available for registration for fall 2024, cohort 6. You must complete the four paid, required work-based learning online courses during the cohort’s time period and select the same live session day for all courses. These trainings are online, as described below, with asynchronous and synchronous parts to each of the four required WBL trainings.
The 2025 schedule will be released mid-late fall 2024.
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 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. NJ Interagency Council on Climate Resilience Releases Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan
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The State of New Jersey (NJ) Office of the Governor, i.e., the Murphy Administration, has released the Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan ("plan"). This plan aims to protect the health and welfare of NJ residents from the impacts of extreme heat. This plan was developed by the NJ Interagency Council on Climate Resilience with public input and is only one of three similar initiatives nationwide (with California and New York). There are 136 specific actions in this plan for individual agencies to implement to minimize the impact of extreme heat. More than 30 actions have been created to prioritize state agency-led efforts and to identify support and resources needed for stakeholders to improve collective readiness of issues caused by a changing climate. NJ is especially vulnerable to extreme heat because of its urban heat islands, which are areas where buildings, roads, and pavement absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat.
Along with this plan, an updated version of the Heat Hub NJ website to address these issues was released. Heat Hub NJ provides information and resources, such as the Chill Out NJ interactive map which helps residents locate cooling centers. To further enhance resilience, a key priority in this plan is to invest in information and raise public awareness about the impacts of extreme heat in NJ. Additionally, as part of this plan, the NJ Interagency Council on Climate Resilience is creating a framework to protect workers from extreme heat and prevent heat-related illnesses. This framework will guide the development of heat standards, safety guidelines, exposure limits, and training programs. It will highlight the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) - Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Heat National Emphasis Program (NEP) and include examples from state departments to help agencies customize and implement these measures. The NJ Department of Health (NJDOH) and the NJDOL will enforce these rules and provide outreach for public sector employers, while federal OSHA will oversee private sector compliance.
For more information, please read the 7/19/2024 press release and check out the Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan's main page.
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B. Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force Announces Recommendations and Best Practices for Safe Internet Use
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With the growing popularity of social media, most teenagers are now regularly using digital technology. In response, SAMHSA funded the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to launch the National Center of Excellence for Social Media and Youth Mental Health in February 2023. This led to the formation of The Kids Online Health and Safety Task Force, which includes agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education.
The task force emphasizes the "5 C's" for safe media use: understanding a child's media habits (Child), ensuring high-quality content (Content), promoting calmness and sleep (Calm), encouraging offline activities (Crowding Out), and fostering open communication about media use (Communication).
The task force also recommends parental controls, such as supervised accounts, time limits, and easy-to-understand resources to help parents manage their children's online safety. Research is ongoing to develop scalable interventions to protect both children's health and privacy while balancing the needs for both digital literacy and safety.
For more information, please go to https://www.samhsa.gov/kids-online-health-safety-task-force/kohs-report-safe-internet-use.
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III. Permanent NJ Safe Schools Free Online Resources
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A. NJ Safe Schools Program Publishes a New Journal Article
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An article titled "Newer New Jersey work-based learning teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic: school safety regarding ventilation, trainings, and awareness of government agencies resources" was published in July 2024 in the Taylor & Francis International Journal of Environmental Health Research. This study presents insights regarding safety and health trainings received, ventilation in schools, and resource awareness of participating NJ high school teachers.
Aggarwal, J., Shendell, D. G., Nguyen, K. T., Rehman, M., & Campbell, M. L. (2024). Newer New Jersey work-based learning teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic: school safety regarding ventilation, trainings, and awareness of government agencies resources. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 1–10.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2024.2378097
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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 | | | | |
