School Ethics Commission Advisory Opinions
Q. Who can request Advisory Opinions from the School Ethics Commission?
A. Only school officials may request and obtain an advisory opinion from the Commission. A school official may request an advisory opinion regarding his or her own prospective conduct.
Q. Can a school official request an Advisory Opinion regarding the conduct of another school official?
A. Yes. A school official may seek an advisory opinion from the Commission as to the proposed conduct of another school official. However, he or she must show the Commission that he or she has copied the school official whose proposed conduct is the subject of the request. The school official whose conduct is in question will then have 10 days from the date of the advisory opinion to respond.
Q. On what type of conduct may a school official request advice?
A. Any school official may request an advisory opinion as to whether any proposed conduct or activity of a school official would in the Commission’s opinion constitute a violation of the act. The Commission cannot provide advice on conduct that has occurred in the past, nor can the Commission provide advice on the conduct of school employees who are not school officials.
Q. How does a school official go about obtaining an advisory opinion from the School Ethics Commission?
A. Any school official can request an advisory opinion by writing a letter to the School Ethics Commission at the NJ Department of Education, P.O. Box 500, Trenton, NJ 08625. The letter should set forth the position of the school official and the nature of the prospective conduct that the school official proposes to undertake. The Commission will contact the school official making the request, if it needs additional information.
Q: How long will it take to receive an answer?
A: The Commission shall render a response at its next monthly meeting following its receipt of all relevant information and documentation needed to make a determination on the request.
