A controversial move toward school choice in New Jersey will be discussed in Trenton today when a state Senate committee is expected to consider a voucher bill creating “opportunity scholarships” to let children leave failing public schools. The bill would create a five-year pilot program allowing between 2,600 and 4,000 children to attend private school in its first year, at a cost of $24 million, increasing to 10,000 to 20,000 children and $120 million in year five. Funding would come from an “Opportunity Scholarship Fund,” created by corporations which receive tax credits equal to their contributions.
Sens. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) and Tom Kean (R-Union), co-sponsors, Wednesday said they hope the legislation is passed into law by July 1, and can send children to school in September.
Supporters have planned a rally at the Statehouse today.
The bulk of scholarships would go to students attending about 200 chronically failing schools, those where 40 percent or more of students failed state standardized tests, in math and language arts, for two years; or 65 percent failed either subject, for one of the past two years.
“This is an effort to give these kids a choice,” Lesniak said.
The bill would also bolster private schools, some which may be struggling financially, as funds could go for scholarships to low-income children who are already attending. There is no restriction on where those children live, Lesniak said.
Scholarships would be about $6,000 for students in grades K-8, and about $9,000 for high school students. Districts would lose state aid for those departing students, but a portion of that aid would go into an “Innovation Fund” that districts could apply for, Lesniak said.
State Education Commissioner Bret Schundler said the bill increases spending on urban students, “without increased spending by New Jersey taxpayers” and provides long overdue aid for parents who have paid taxes, but “have not had any support for the education of their children.”
The receiving schools would have to give preference to incoming students from chronically failing schools, and have those students take the same standardized tests as public school kids.
David Sciarra, executive of the Newark-based Education Law Center, which advocates for urban schools, called the bill “awful educational policy.”
“We’re in a fiscal crisis,” he said, arguing the state can’t afford to funnel money away from public schools after facing huge budget cuts. He also said the measure “runs counter to all of the improvmement methods that are now under way” for New Jersey’s schools, including seeking $400 million in federal Race to the Top funding.
Lesniak dismissed that, saying the bill would affect a tiny fraction of the state’s roughly 1.4 million school children. “It’s two different paths to achieve the same goals,” he said. Star Ledger
N.J. gov. sets tone for US
So if I understand this correctly, this program will only help students who are currently in a failing public school and want to transfer to private school. If this is the case, this program would have zero impact on our community. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.
#2 not immediately but hes setting a president once there is something on the books its fairly easy to expand it, even if not right away its still positive
You don’t have to be IN a failing school just being in a town that has failing school is good. Also if this works it could lead to straight out vouchers which is for anyone. If this first step isn’t approved it means the whole idea is dead which is why its so important.
Will this end up costing the goverment money or is it revenue neutral?
The governor feels that taking a child out of a failing school that costs the taxpayer 14,000 and putting him into a school that costs 6,000 is a net gain to the taxpayer
The money comes from corporate taxes that will be designated for this purpose. A gorol will be done to see who gets them, and based on the numbers overall, most would be from public schools statewide, but in Lakewood those numbers are reversed, so most yeshiva students would have their tuition paid for.
#2: Yes, you are wrong. Low income students already enrolled in private schools would be eligible regardless of the condition of their local district. This would benefit several thousand Lakewood families directly.
#7 you are so wrong it goes to public school children first.
In short it’s another entitlement program for low income families which will take funds from revenues (via tax credits) that could be used to cut the tax burden for the middle class people (the people who pay the most taxes).
The fact is that frum middle class people don’t qualify for entiltlement programs, are nevertheless squeezed by the high costs of frum households and these entitlements just cause taxes to go up.
I find it ironic that the goverment can continue to find money for entitlements but is unable to find money to stop obscene NJ transit fare hikes/service cuts for working people.
Politics as usual.
# 2,
This program will assist any student living within the geographic jurisdiction of a school district designated as “failing.” The mere fact that a student has not actually enrolled him/her self in the public-school system is immaterial. Besides, since every student remains eligible to enroll in the public option at any time, it would be unconscionable to essentially force them to enter a failing system.
But more important; Contrary to what the NJEA cartel would like you to believe, the local BOE’s are not, nor were they ever, creatures of the public school system. They exist solely for one purpose; to assure that the State constitutional mandate to provide a thorough and efficient system of education for every school-age child, in their respective districts, is properly fulfilled. They are there to serve our kids and they can enforce the compulsory education law. It does not matter in the least if the pupil’s educational obligation is discharged in the Public or Private option. The U.S. Supreme Court gave a clear ruling in 1925, and strongly reaffirmed it in 1972, that the choice remains with the child and their parent. Every child has a fundamental right to exercise their educational liberties at a school that fits their conscience. It is also fundamentally unjust to compel a child lacking the financial means to discharge his legal requirement in a school system that is “failing.” No child should be forced to take the public option.
Additionally, when competition is created – and the monopoly removed – those same failing schools will likely be more motivated to positive change and start becoming more successful.
So, except for those who are currently receiving the costly “generous-by-every-standard” benefits, this is a real win-win situation.
will the p.s. childern get school books they can read and up to date???
Now I get it, why it was necessary for Lakewood to officially become a “failing school district”….