May 2023

Volume 15 Issue 12

After final approvals May 2022, in the 2022-2023 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.   

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

There will be six cohorts of trainings available between fall 2022 and summer 2023. 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=192380.

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 July 2022 and again in early fall 2022 through fall 2023, at a reduced total cost and with an improved administrative process.

An outline of the required courses for WBL supervision is below. The teachers eligible for the previously mentioned 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 2022-2023. 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 2022-2023. 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 2022-2023. 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 2022-2023.

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

Email: [email protected] 

Six cohorts will be available for registration, with the first cohort beginning January 2023 and the last cohort ending in December 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.

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 2022-2023. 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 2022-2023. 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 2022-2023. 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 2022-2023, 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.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is sponsoring a 'Beat the Heat' Contest to raise awareness about the hazards of heat exposure in indoor and outdoor workplaces. Participants must create an awareness tool (e.g., infographic, training curriculum, poster, logo, etc.) for workplaces to increase heat hazard recognition among employers and workers. The contest is open now. The deadline for entries is June 9, 2023.

Also, on May 16, 2023 from 12:00-1:00 PM ET, OSHA will hold an informational webinar to outline the contest and allow participants to ask questions. To register for the webinar, click here.

NJ Safe Schools program offers Non-SLE General Occupational Safety and Health Courses for teachers and students. For 2022-2023, 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).

This is the last chance opportunity to register you and your students for these free courses for the school year. If you are interested in enrolling your students and yourself in any of the courses, please email [email protected] 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 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 the NJ Safe Schools Program 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.