The 2026 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 will be released in the coming weeks.

Course costs and registration will be available on our website.

Website: https://sph.rutgers.edu/njss/required-courses. 

Email: cscbre@sph.rutgers.edu 

Please note, you must complete the four required WBL online courses during the cohort’s time period and select the same virtual 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.

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 2025-2026. This course has two parts. First, the online course on the Rutgers Canvas learning management system (LMS), then the virtual live session hosted on Rutgers WebEx.

C. OSHA 10 Plus

Online course for 2025-2026. 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 virtual 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 2025-2026. This course has two parts. First, the online course on the Rutgers Canvas learning management system (LMS), including the completion of the mandatory field assignment, then the virtual live session hosted on Rutgers WebEx.

The NJ Safe Schools Program offers two free courses for teachers to take through the Rutgers Canvas learning management system.

Structured Learning Experience (SLE)/Work-based Learning (WBL) Refresher

The SLE/WBL Refresher is a free online course on the Rutgers Canvas learning management system for those who have completed the SLE/WBL trainings in the last three to seven years. Teachers, supervisors and other staff working in NJ K-12 public and charter plus certain private secondary schools will receive two (2.0) professional development units upon completing the course.

Promoting Safety & Health for NJ Students with Special Health Care Needs in CTE

This online course is offered for free to NJ public, charter and private school personnel. It provides an introduction on topics regarding safety and health for young workers with special health care needs, and soft skills used in the workplace and in our communities. Those who complete the course receive a certificate of completion for four (4.0) professional development units.

To be enrolled in either of these courses, please contact NJ Safe Schools by email at cscbre@sph.rutgers.edu.

The NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) recently announced the third Career and Technical Education (CTE) Scholar Award Program, which recognizes outstanding CTE students throughout NJ. This legislation establishes an annual recognition of student achievements to highlight the importance of CTE in meeting the needs of business and industry for highly skilled and trained workers. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) operating an approved CTE program of study are eligible to participate in this program. The NJDOE, in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL), has developed criteria to recognize outstanding CTE students. There are four criteria outlined in the legislation:

1. Demonstrate a high level of achievement in a CTE program of study, as exemplified by course grades, industry-recognized technical assessments, and teacher recommendations. 
2. Demonstrate a high level of achievement in at least three academic classes, as exemplified by course grades, end-of-course assessments, and teacher recommendations. 
3. Successfully complete a college-level course or a work-based learning (WBL) experience, including, but not limited to, employment under a cooperative education agreement, an internship, or a work-based structured learning experience. 
4. Participate in a career and technical student organization (CTSO) or a community service project that demonstrates the application of career and technical skills. 

Resources and additional information can be found at the CTE Scholarship Award Program webpage. 

Please send questions about the CTE Scholar Award Program to CTEScholarAwardProgram@doe.nj.gov. 

The American Lung Association will be launching the Clean Air School Challenge (CASC). The CASC is an engagement, recognition, training and technical assistance program that will empower K-12 schools across the country to address indoor air quality. The goal of the CASC is to support schools in creating healthier learning environments.

Sign up started July 1, 2025, and is ongoing through September 2029. Schools can sign up any time. 

The NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) offers a number of free services to students and families. To learn more about their virtual and in-person resources available, please visit https://nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/individuals/transition/.

D. NJ Senate Update to Protect Students with Disability While on School Buses

On July 1, 2025, the NJ Senate passed a bill that would help ensure safe transportation for students with disabilities by requiring:

• School bus personnel who work with students with disabilities to call 911 in potential life-threatening emergencies.
• Boards of education and school bus contractors to provide training related to school bus safety and interacting with students with disabilities.
• A school bus transporting one or more students with disabilities must be equipped with video camera and communications equipment and a global positioning system (GPS).

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) recently launched the new Assistive Technology Center. The center is funded by the NJ Department of Education, Office of Special Education and is dedicated to supporting educators in integrating assistive technology tools and strategies into their classrooms. The Assistive Technology Center aims to provide educators in NJ with the resources and training about assistive technology so they can better serve students, especially those with disabilities or unique learning needs. The center provides free professional development (PD), including ongoing in-person and virtual workshops, webinars, and hands-on training sessions focused on assistive technology tools, implementation strategies, and best practices. These PD opportunities can be selected from their list, or customized and tailored to meet your district's needs. These PD opportunities have been created to align with professional standards in State of NJ Administrative Code as well as instructional design best practices. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Vanessa Lombardo, the director of the Assistive Technology Center: lombardv@tcnj.edu.

A. NJ Safe Schools Program Publishes New Journal Article

These general environmental and occupational safety and health courses--formerly free and now low-cost (administrative costs only) topical courses--offered by the New Jersey Safe Schools (NJSS) will have a fixed registration fee per person for each course this 2025-2026 SY. Teachers can register students via NJSS on the Rutgers Canvas learning management system for one month upon receipt of a district or school purchase order, or payment via check. The course completion deadline will be based on the set cohort schedule. Student certificates of completion will be emailed to teachers at the end of the cohort once successful course completion has been verified and payment has been received. Please note, each class/classroom of students, regardless of grade level, must have at least 1+ supervisory teacher(s) who has finished NJDOE/NJSS required trainings. (This statement does not apply to out-of-state teachers.)

Fee Details

• In state (NJ) students: $15 per student per course enrollment.
• Out of state students: $20 per student per course enrollment.

Please note: Teachers may preview and test a course for free on behalf of their students.



Courses Offered (listed alphabetically here by the first word of title):

• Basic Cosmetology for Safety & Health Course
• Introduction to Apprenticeships Course
• Introduction to Personal Protective Equipment Course
• Introduction to Quantitative Risk Assessment
• New and Young Worker’s Course on Wage and Labor Laws

Registration Details

Please note the start date for the NJSS topical course(s) selected is the Tuesday of the week (if you register by the Thursday afternoon of the prior week), else it will be the Friday of the week (if you register on Friday-Sunday of the prior week). We established this system to avoid Monday holidays and delays on weekend Friday-Sunday. Rutgers Canvas Help desk serves the entire university of students and programs like ours, and the former do get priority.

To facilitate enrollment, teachers must contact cscbre@sph.rutgers.edu with the names and email addresses of their students in an Excel Spreadsheet, and the course(s) of interest. Our team will separately reach out to the primary teacher regarding the payment process.

For questions, please contact NJSS by email at cscbre@sph.rutgers.edu.

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.