New Jersey Department of Education

Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement Between Education and Law Enforcement Officials (MOA)

In 1988, the New Jersey Departments of Law & Public Safety and Education issued a memorandum for use by local law enforcement and education officials.  These agreements were signed in communities across the state and documented the commitment of both entities to work together as equal partners to address the State's alcohol and other drug problems as they relate to school-age children.  Regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education and codified at N.J.A.C. 6A:16-6.2(b)13 through 14 establish uniform statewide policies and procedures for ensuring cooperation between education officials and law enforcement agencies; these policies and procedures are consistent with and complementary to the Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement Between Education and Law Enforcement Officials (MOA) approved by the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Education.

The MOA has been designed to ensure cooperation between law enforcement and education officials and ultimately to protect the educational environment.  Recent events in New Jersey and throughout the nation have made clear that while schools are generally safe places for students and staff members, a wide range of offenses are committed on school grounds.

The 2023 MOA, approved by the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Education, is a revision of the 2019 version. Previous revisions were also approved in 1992, 1999, 2007, 2011, and 2015. While school districts are free to customize the MOA to include additional local provisions to address specific problems and concerns, districts are not permitted to delete or alter provisions of the MOA pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-6.2(b)14ii.

MOA and Related Materials


Back
to top