New Jersey's Public Schools Contracts Law, enacted on June 2, 1977, places limits on the authority of local and regional boards of education to make purchases and to enter into contracts, agreements, or leases for supplies or services. This publication is designed to provide information and guidance that will assist boards of education in meeting legal requirements for contracts and in keeping abreast of pertinent developments in the law. The first five sections cover legal requirements governing the initial stages in negotiating a contract: advertising for bids, soliciting quotations, drawing up specifications and plans, bidding requirements, and the contract itself. The last five sections cover the following special cases: (1) school building repairs: supervision, inspection, condemnation, rejection; (2) sale of personal property; (3) set-aside programs for women and minority businesses; (4) joint purchasing agreements; and (5) miscellaneous provisions. Appended is a flowchart showing the contract-bidding procedure for public works contracts by public schools. (TE)