School Ethics Commission Decisions
This site contains all decisions and public advisory opinions issued by the School Ethics Commission from January 1, 1997 to the present. Previously, the Commission’s decisions were published only when the Commission found a violation of the Act and recommended a penalty to the Commissioner of Education. Such decisions may be found in New Jersey Administrative Reports (N.J.A.R.2d).
The School Ethics Commission was created under the School Ethics Act, effective April 15, 1992. N.J.S.A. 18A:12-21 et seq. The Commission meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month, except for the December meeting.
A party may file exceptions to the Commission’s recommended penalty with the Commissioner of Education, who makes the final decision as to all sanctions. As of July 7, 2008, through enactment of P.L. 2008, c. 36, the Commission's underlying finding of violation may be appealed to Commissioner through a separate process, and the Commissioner then reviews the penalty after making a determination on the finding of violation under appeal. (Prior to this date, appeals of the Commission’s finding of violation were appealable to the State Board of Education.) Commission findings of no probable cause are final agency decisions appealable directly to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court.
When citing to decisions accessed through this site, treat them as slip opinions, referencing the date and docket number.