- See also: K-12 education content standards in the states
This page features information about K-12 areas of instruction required by state statute in New Jersey public schools.
Background
- See also: K-12 education content standards in the states and K-12 curriculum authority, requirements, and statutes in the states
State education officials may develop content standards and curricula, depending on the state, in order to facilitate instruction in public schools. In some states, lawmakers also adopt required areas of instruction by statute.
K-12 content standards and curriculum development
State or local education officials may develop K-12 curricula for classroom instruction that generally includes lessons and materials used in a particular course of study.[1] Depending on the state, K-12 curricula may reflect or incorporate state content standards—educational learning and achievement goals that state education officials either require or recommend that local schools satisfy in K-12 instruction.
Areas of instruction required by statute
Some state laws require the inclusion of specific areas of instruction in K-12 public school curricula. In these cases, lawmakers—rather than state education officials—mandate certain education requirements for students. Laws governing specific areas of instruction in K-12 curricula vary by state.
Statutorily required areas of instruction in New Jersey
The following table provides information about selected areas of instruction required by statute in New Jersey, as of 2023. The statutes provided may not be comprehensive. The statutory text is provided below the table.
New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-4.39 (2022):
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Health curriculum to include instruction on mental health.
1. a. A school district shall ensure that its health education programs for students in grades kindergarten through 12 recognize the multiple dimensions of health by including mental health and the relation of physical and mental health so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes, and behaviors that promote health, well-being, and human dignity. The instruction in mental health shall be adapted to the age and understanding of the students and shall be incorporated as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The instruction shall include, as appropriate, information on substance abuse provided pursuant to the implementation of these standards and to section 1 of P.L.2016, c.46 (C.18A:40A-2.1)...[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-4.43 (2022):
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Infusion of African American accomplishments into school curricula.
4. a. Every board of education shall include, in the curriculum of all elementary and secondary school students, instruction that infuses into all courses on the United States, the centuries of accomplishments by African Americans in the building and development of America including, but not limited to, the areas of industry, military, government, and the professions; local communities; math, science, medicine, and space; architecture and the arts; social institutions and culture; and other aspects of life in America...[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-5.4 (2022):
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Instruction on breast self-examination required
1. Each board of education which operates an educational program for students in grades 7 through 12 shall offer instruction in breast self-examination. The instruction shall take place as part of the district's implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, and the comprehensive health and physical education curriculum framework shall provide school districts with sample activities that may be used to support implementation of the instructional requirement.[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-28 (2022):
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Instruction on Holocaust, genocides required in elementary, secondary school curriculum
2. a. Every board of education shall include instruction on the Holocaust and genocides in an appropriate place in the curriculum of all elementary and secondary school pupils...[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-41 (2022):
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Provision of course of study in civics.
3. Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, each board of education shall provide a course of study in civics, which shall be taken by all students in an appropriate middle school grade. The course shall address: the values and principles underlying the American system of constitutional democracy; the function and limitations of government; and the role of a citizen in a democratic society. The board shall ensure that the course of study includes a minimum of two quarters of instruction, or the equivalent.[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:6-113.1 (2022):
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Middle school, high school student identification cards with New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline contact information.
1. A public school that includes any of the grades seven through 12 and that issues student identification cards shall have printed on the back of the student identification cards the telephone number for the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline (NJ Hopeline) and contact information for a crisis text line.[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-2.1 (2022):
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Civics curriculum guidelines.
1. The New Jersey Center for Civic Education at Rutgers, The State University shall prepare curriculum guidelines and provide professional development for high school social studies teachers to help local school boards in fulfilling the requirements of integrating civics, economics, and the history of New Jersey as part of the required United States history course established pursuant to N.J.S.18A:35-1 and N.J.S.18A:35-2.[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-4.20 (2022):
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Sex education programs to stress abstinence.
2. Any sex education that is given as part of any planned course, curriculum or other instructional program and that is intended to impart information or promote discussion or understanding in regard to human sexual behavior, sexual feelings and sexual values, human sexuality and reproduction, pregnancy avoidance or termination, HIV infection or sexually transmitted diseases, regardless of whether such instruction is described as, or incorporated into a description of "sex education," "family life education," "family health education," "health education," "family living," "health," "self esteem," or any other course, curriculum program or goal of education, and any materials including, but not limited, to handouts, speakers, notes or audiovisuals presented on school property concerning methods for the prevention of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), other sexually transmitted diseases and of avoiding pregnancy, shall stress that abstinence from sexual activity is the only completely reliable means of eliminating the sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases and of avoiding pregnancy.[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-4.3 (2022):
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Sexual assault prevention education program
The Department of Education in consultation with the advisory committee provided for in section 2 of this act, shall develop and establish guidelines for the teaching of sexual assault prevention techniques for utilization by local school districts in the establishment of a sexual assault prevention education program. Such program shall be adapted to the age and understanding of the pupils and shall be emphasized in appropriate places of the curriculum sufficiently for a full and adequate treatment of the subject.[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-4.23a (2022):
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Dating violence education incorporated into health education curriculum.
6. a. Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, each school district shall incorporate dating violence education that is age appropriate into the health education curriculum as part of the district's implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education for students in grades 7 through 12...[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-4.26 (2022):
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Instruction in gang violence prevention; required for elementary school students.
1. Each board of education that operates an educational program for elementary school students shall offer instruction in gang violence prevention and in ways to avoid membership in gangs. The instruction shall take place as part of the district's implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, and the comprehensive health and physical education curriculum framework shall provide school districts with sample materials that may be used to support implementation of the instructional requirement.[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-4.27 (2022):
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Instruction on responsible use of social media.
1. a. Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, each school district shall incorporate instruction on the responsible use of social media into the technology education curriculum for students in grades 6 through 8 as part of the district's implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Technology...[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-4.28 (2022):
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Instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, use of automated external defibrillator for certain students.
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the board of education of a public school district that includes grades 9 through 12, or the board of trustees of a charter school that includes grades 9 through 12, shall provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator to each student prior to graduation as part of the district's implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The board of education, or board of trustees, may select a no-cost, non-certification instructional program to meet this requirement...[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-4.35 (2022):
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History of disabled and LGBT persons included in middle and high school curriculum
1. A board of education shall include instruction on the political, economic, and social contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, in an appropriate place in the curriculum of middle school and high school students as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:35-4.36a (2022):
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Curriculum to contain instruction on diversity and inclusion.
1. a. Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, each school district shall incorporate instruction on diversity and inclusion in an appropriate place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards...[2]
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New Jersey Revised Statutes § 18A:6-3 (2022):
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Courses in Constitution of United States
Regular courses of instruction in the Constitution of the United States shall be given in all public schools and in all private schools, attendance at which is a sufficient compliance with the compulsory educational requirements of this title in this State, which instruction shall begin not later than the opening of the seventh grade in public schools and of the equivalent grade in private schools and shall continue in the high school course and in courses of State colleges and universities and the educational departments of the State and municipal institutions.[2]
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See also
External links
