Bill Text: NJ S3322 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes New Jersey Educational Empowerment Grant Program; appropriates $1 million.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-11-14 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S3322 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-S3322-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator EDWARD DURR
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes New Jersey Educational Empowerment Grant Program; appropriates $1 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the New Jersey Educational Empowerment Grant Program, supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Education shall establish and administer the New Jersey Educational Empowerment Grant Program. The purpose of the program shall be to provide grants for eligible students to attend a nonpublic school within the State.
b. The grant program shall expand educational opportunities for eligible students outside of the public school system. Funds shall be used exclusively to pay for the following for a student for whom the grant has been awarded:
(1) tuition and fees charged by a nonpublic school at which the student is enrolled;
(2) required textbooks;
(3) tutoring or other teaching services that are provided by a tutor or tutoring agency;
(4) in the case of a student who received special education programs and services pursuant to chapter 46 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes in the school year prior to the awarding of the grant, fees for any special instruction or services provided to the student;
(5) transportation required for the student to travel to and from the nonpublic school, not to exceed $750 per school year; and
(6) curriculum and supplemental materials required to administer the curriculum.
c. To be eligible for participation in the grant program, a student shall:
(1) be eligible to attend a public school pursuant to N.J.S.18A:38-1; and
(2) have been enrolled in a public school located in the State for at least 100 consecutive days.
d. A parent or guardian of a student who wishes to participate in the grant program shall submit an application to the Department of Education in a form prescribed by the commissioner. The application shall include, at minimum:
(1) a description of why enrollment in a nonpublic school would benefit the student; and
(2) any other information the commissioner deems necessary.
e. Grant awards shall be allocated to students on a competitive basis, in a manner to be determined by the commissioner. To the extent possible, the commissioner shall select grant recipients from the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, and shall seek a cross section of students from urban, suburban, and rural areas.
2. There is created a non-lapsing, revolving fund within the Department of Education known as the New Jersey Educational Empowerment Grant Fund. All monies appropriated annually by the Legislature, any federal or other grants received by the State, and any other monies made available for the purposes of the grant program shall be deposited in the fund. Monies deposited in the fund shall be used by the department to provide funding for grants awarded under the grant program.
3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Education the sum of $1,000,000 to effectuate the provisions of this act. The Legislature may appropriate additional funds to the New Jersey Educational Empowerment Grant Fund as it may deem necessary.
4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the New Jersey Educational Empowerment Grant Program. The purpose of the program will be to provide grants for eligible students to attend a nonpublic school within the State.
Under the bill, the grant program will expand educational opportunities for eligible students outside of the public school system. Funds will be used exclusively to pay for the following for a student for whom the grant has been awarded:
(1) tuition and fees charged by a nonpublic school at which the student is enrolled;
(2) required textbooks;
(3) tutoring or other teaching services that are provided by a tutor or tutoring agency;
(4) in the case of a student who received special education programs and services pursuant to chapter 46 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes in the school year prior to the awarding of the grant, fees for any special instruction or services provided to the student;
(5) transportation required for the student to travel to and from the nonpublic school, not to exceed $750 per school year; and
(6) curriculum and supplemental materials required to administer the curriculum.
Also under the bill, to be eligible for participation in the grant program, a student must:
(1) be eligible to attend a public school pursuant to N.J.S.18A:38-1; and
(2) have been enrolled in a public school located in the State for at least 100 consecutive days.
The bill requires the parent or guardian of a student who wishes to participate in the grant program to submit an application to the Department of Education in a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Education. The application is to include, at a minimum:
(1) a description of why enrollment in a nonpublic school would benefit the student; and
(2) any other information the commissioner deems necessary.
Under the bill, grant awards will be allocated to students on a competitive basis, in a manner to be determined by the commissioner. To the extent possible, the commissioner is required to select grant recipients from the northern, central, and southern regions of the State, and seek a cross section of students from urban, suburban, and rural areas.
The bill establishes a fund for the grant program within the Department of Education. The bill appropriates $1 million for the grant program.
