The board will keep the community informed of the status of the schools through advertised public meetings, press releases and such other means as may be appropriate.

The public information program of the board and the district shall be directed by the chief school administrator, who shall arrange to keep the public informed regarding the policies, administrative operations, objectives, and successes or failures of the schools and shall provide interpretation and explanation of the schools’ plans and programs.

The district’s budget; its audit; its annual goals and its progress toward achievement of them; its special education plans; its bilingual/ESL program; pupil progress toward achievement of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards statistics and any other information shall be communicated to the public as required by law.

The board’s meetings and records shall be a matter of public information except as such meetings and records pertain to individual personnel and other classified matters.

Annually, the school district shall disseminate a report card of each school, which shall contain statistical information specified by the Department of Education, to all staff and parents. The school district shall also make the report card available to the media.

The homepage of each school and the district website will include the grade received from the Commissioner of Education on the effort of each school and the district to implement policies and programs consistent with the laws on harassment, intimidation or bullying. The chief school administrator or designee shall oversee the postings. The grade shall be posted within 10 days of its receipt. In addition, the district shall provide a link to the twice-yearly report prepared by the chief school administrator detailing the number and nature of violence vandalism, and harassment, intimidation or bullying reports in the schools.

Avoiding Excessive Expenditures when Communicating with the Public

District publications will be produced and distributed in a cost-efficient manner, for example:

A. The use of expensive materials or production techniques where lower cost methods are available, such as the use of multi-color glossy publications instead of suitable, less expensive alternatives, is prohibited.

B. Distribution of pictures of school board members is prohibited within 90 days of any district election.

C. Excessive public relations activities that are not part of the instructional program are prohibited.

NJSBA Review/Update: August 2008, September 2009, October 2017
Adopted: January 21, 2009
Revised: October 2012
Readopted: October 17, 2012
Revised:

Key Words

Communicating With The Public, Public Information Program, Press Releases

Legal References: N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq. Open Public Meetings Act
N.J.S.A. 18A:7E-2
through -5 School report card program
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. Examination and copies of public records (“Open Public Records Act”)
N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.1(a)3 Curriculum and instruction
N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-5.2 Public relations and professional services
N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-8.1 et seq. Budget Submission, support documentation, website publication
N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-9.5 Commissioner to ensure achievement of the CCCS
N.J.A.C. 6A:30-1.4(a)1 Evaluation process for the annual review

Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Pub.L. 114-95, 20 U.S.C.A. 6301 et seq.

Possible
Cross References: *1000/1010 Concepts and roles in community relations; goals and objectives
*1120 Board of education meetings
*2240 Research, evaluation and planning
*3570 District records and reports
*5124 Reporting to parents/guardians
*6142.2 English as a second language; bilingual/bicultural
*6142.6 Basic skills
*6142.10 Technology
*6171.1 Remedial instruction
*6171.3 At-risk and Title 1
*6171.4 Special education
*6300 Evaluation of the instructional program

*Indicates policy is included in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.