• Per NJ Department of Education rules, students who wish to participate in DECA must be currently or previously have been enrolled in a Marketing, Sales, Service, Hospitality, Business Finance, Management or Entrepreneurship course.  Personal finance courses cannot count as a corresponding course.  The corresponding course rule applies to all sanctioned Career and Technical Student Organizations in New Jersey (FBLA, FFA, SkillsUSA, HOSA, TSA, FCCLA).
• DECA is a co-curricular activity.  DECA activities are to be incorporated into the course of study.  DECA clubs cannot be approved as Chapters.
• All NJ DECA chapters must have an adult Chapter Advisor who would organize and run the DECA Chapter.  While we believe in Student Leadership, the chapter advisor is the “CEO” of the chapter, and will be the primary liaison to NJ and National DECA. The role of the advisor is one of the management of the chapter and is the person responsible for travel, registration, being a liaison with the state office, communicating policy and procedure to the students. Student-run chapters are not permitted.    
• The advisor has a profound influence on chapter development, as well as gaining the support of school administration and the community for the CTSO and its activities. The advisor should meet periodically with other teachers in the CTE program area to share information and resources and gain their support for the CTSO chapter. Advisors should share state and national materials with student members, stimulate student participation in the planning process and involve as many student members as possible. An advisor should be the overall person in charge of your organization.  
• The local advisor’s responsibilities include the following: 
  • 1. Directing, chaperoning and coordinating the supervision of student members at CTSO activities conducted during, before or after the regular school day and serving as a liaison to the state office.
  • 2. Knowing the history, principles, bylaws, ceremonies, typical activities, procedures and other essentials for the active operation of a local chapter.
  • 3. Organizing the selection process for chapter officers.
  • 4. Providing for the training of chapter officers so that they can fulfill the responsibilities of their offices.
  • 5. Establishing rules that are consistent with school policies and the state and national organization’s bylaws.
  • 6. Conducting regular chapter meetings and ensuring that they are conducted in a businesslike manner using parliamentary procedure.
  • 7. Assisting the student members in developing an annual program of work, which includes a budget, calendar and committee assignments.
  • 8. Encouraging civic responsibility through professional conferences, chapter activities, school improvement projects, and support of community activities.
  • 9. Assisting in the maintenance of necessary chapter records: financial, membership, state and national dues reporting, annual reports of activities, financial development projects, etc.
  • 10. Planning, collecting, and arranging materials to promote the chapter and its events.
  • 11. Ensuring that the school, administration, faculty, students and the public are informed of chapter activities and outstanding student achievements.
  • 12. Recruiting and coordinating the preparation of student members for participation in local, state and national activities and competitive events.
  • 13. Knowing the guidelines for regional, state and national competitive events and coordinating participation at all levels.
  • 14. Overseeing financial development projects – collecting, counting, depositing, monitoring and distributing ordered or produced merchandise.
  • 15. Supervising the receipt, recording, depositing and expenditure of chapter funds. 
  • 16. Serving as the lead adult responsible for the chapter, and supervising all student-led efforts.
  • 17. Facilitating the competitive event program in the chapter, including registering members for competition, assisting in preparation, and serving as an event facilitator.
  • 18. Serving as a liaison to the state and national chapter, and the sole communications conduit to and from the students.

• All NJ DECA high school chapters must have the approval of the school administration to run the program.  The NJ DECA program would include:
  • Competitions and Conferences – there are associated costs and travel time requirements for students
  • At least 10 students must participate as registered members of DECA
  • The Chapter Advisor must be available to travel with his/her students to participate in conferences/competitions and serve work shifts as assigned by NJ DECA, in addition to chaperone duties.
  • The Chapter Advisor needs to commit to attending occasional off-site meetings, such as the monthly meetings of the regional Marketing Teacher Association, which might take place during the school day.
  • Requirements for students to become members – to become a registered member of NJ DECA, a student must be currently or previously have been enrolled in a Marketing, Sales, Service, Hospitality, Business Finance, Management or Entrepreneurship course and pay annual dues to both NJ DECA and DECA, Inc.  Dues are currently  $15 — $8 to DECA, Inc. and $7 to NJ DECA.

If you’d like an application to start a chapter, please download the Program Validation Form and submit to jvictor@njdeca.org.  You also may fill out a new chapter application with National DECA here.