Leaves
How To Apply
To request a leave of absence, you must send an email to: leaveofabsence@nps.k12.nj.us providing your name, employee ID#, type of leave, start and end dates.
If your leave of absence is medically related, you will need to complete medical certification forms, or provide medical documentation certified by your medical provider. For your convenience, the medical certification forms are available on the NBOE website
https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/departments/human-resources/employee-services/
Once you have submitted your request, Human Resource Services will open a leave case, and process “eligibility” to determine if you qualify under the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act – employee) and/or New Jersey Family Leave Act (caring for a family member/bonding with newborn).
Eligibility is based on the total amount of hours you worked within one (1) year of service;
10-month employees must work 1,200 hours; and have worked one (1) full year with the District. *
12-month employees must work 1,250 hours; and have worked one (1) full year with the District. *
*The amount of hours worked is based on the calendar year, not the school calendar. The total amount of years worked is based on 1 full year of service, not total years with the District.
All medical certification forms must be completed, signed by the treating physician, and returned to Human Resource Services via email leaveofabsence@nps.k12.nj.us
By mail:
Newark Board of Education
765 Broad Street, 2nd Floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102;
Or fax: 973-688-2060.
If approved under the FMLA and/or NJFLA (New Jersey Family Leave Act – for the care of qualified family member or bonding with newborn leave of absence), your benefits will remain active.
IMPORTANT: If you participate in any one of the district’s medical plans, you have no-cost access to Maven, a digital health platform for parents through the AetnaⓇ Enhanced Maternity Program™ with family-building and menopause support. Maven provides free, 24/7 virtual support for pregnancy, postpartum, returning to work, parenting, and pediatrics—all the way up to your child’s 10th birthday. You can use their platform to:
- Book on-demand video appointments with providers across more than 35 specialties, including doulas, mental health specialists, lactation consultants, and infant sleep coaches
- Read articles vetted by Maven doctors, nurses, and coaches that are tailored to your journey
- Access our extensive library of provider-led virtual classes, covering topics like breastfeeding, newborn care, postpartum stress management, and more!
To learn more about Maven and to sign up, visit: /medical/#maven
Maternity Leave Extension
If an employee has utilized the allotted 12 weeks/60 days under the FMLA and/or NJFLA, and exhausted her accrual time (sick, personal or vacation days); the health coverage will be affected.
At that point, the Office of Benefit Services will forward information regarding COBRA coverage.
If you have any further questions regarding leave process, please contact the Leaves Department at 973-798-4920.
Please note that all email communication will be sent to your District email.
All employees returning to work from an FMLA, FMLA/NJFLA, Illness, and Maternity leave of absence, must submit medical clearance (doctor’s note/letterhead – indicating diagnosis, and clearance date you expect to return) at least three (3) days prior to their return to work date. You may submit this information via fax to (973) 688-2060 or by email to leaveofabsence@nps.k12.nj.us.
NJ FLI
Questions about NJ Family Leave Insurance (FLI), please visit the NJ State’s Division of Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance website here:
Attached please find the following pdf documents:
- How to View Leave Accruals
- How to View Leave Accrual via Kronos
Donor Days
If you would like to apply, please complete the form below and forward it to Office of Health Services. The Benefits Team doesn’t handle donor days.
Questions about donor days, how to apply, who is eligibility, etc. please reach out to the Office of Health Services.
Their email is SWarren@NPS.K12.NJ.US
Health Benefits on Leave
Below is the outline the District follows regarding benefits and an employee’s leave status for reference:
Benefits- FAQs for Leaves
If an employee is under a paid medical leave such as FMLA, NJFLA, Illness, or Maternity, medical benefits will not be affected.
If an employee is on an unpaid medical leave such as FMLA and NJFLA, medical benefits will not be affected. However, any employee medical contributions not collected during the unpaid leave of absence will result in retroactive deductions being applied once the employee returns from the leave. Note, FMLA and/or NJFLA provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year.
If an employee is on an unpaid medical leave such as Illness, Personal, Maternity, and Special Leave, medical benefits will be affected. The employee will be offered the opportunity to enroll in COBRA coverage (click here for more information about COBRA) with the third-party administrator, Inspira in which the employee will be responsible for the full premium payment for each elected benefit.
Note, you are not required to enroll into COBRA. Since this is a qualifying event, if applicable, you can enroll onto your spouse’s health plan, if their employer offers it.
With COBRA the subscriber pays the whole monthly premiums, but with Employer sponsored benefits, the employer and employee share a cost to the monthly premiums, which may be a cheaper alternative.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Once you return from leave, you must take-action to reinstate your health coverage. Health coverage doesn’t automatically reinstate once you return from leave. Within 5-7 business days after your return, please visit the Benefits Portal at www.NBOEbenefits.com to make your elections.
Below are alternative health coverage options.