Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Nonpublic Aux Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panel advances bill to change how New Jersey funds remedial services for nonpublic school students
Summary
A bill that would rework how the state allocates aid for auxiliary and remedial services to nonpublic schools was released by the Senate Education Committee after extensive testimony from sponsors, providers and community groups; proponents say it would redirect unused funds to students without increasing the overall appropriation.
Assemblyman Avi Schnal told the Senate Education Committee on June 5 that Senate Bill 4312 seeks to fix what he called an “archaic” funding mechanism that leaves a portion of appropriated dollars unused.
Schnal said the program — commonly referred to as chapter 192 compensatory services — has line-item appropriations totaling roughly $50 million in recent years and that about 10% of those dollars are returned unused. The bill would change the mechanics from a monthly “pay-down” proration to a quarterly reimbursement tied to services actually provided and base future allocations on the most recent documented services, not data two years old.
Supporters from provider organizations and religious community groups told the committee the change would raise the effective per‑pupil funding available to students without increasing the total appropriation. Dr. Berton, representing Tender Touch, said providers are delivering services in many schools but that the per‑pupil amounts have shrunk below what providers estimate is required to deliver full programs. Schnal cited provider estimates that the current per‑pupil allocation is about $1,100 while a state DOE survey showed low-end provider estimates near $1,350.
Committee members asked for specifics on scale and mechanics. Senator Turner pressed for a definition of “remedial” services and for an estimate of students affected; Schnal and witnesses said remedial services generally cover literacy and math interventions and estimated the affected population at roughly 30,000 to 40,000 students statewide but emphasized uncertainty in the estimate.
Advocacy witnesses including Shlomo Shorin and community representatives urged passage, saying the bill is a technical fix that would ensure appropriated dollars reach the children for whom they were intended. Schnal said the bill would generate approximately $5 million to $6 million of usable funds by changing distribution, not by adding funds to the budget.
After questions and additional testimony, the committee moved the bill and recorded a roll‑call vote that released SB4312 for further consideration.
Next steps: SB4312 was released from the committee and will be available for subsequent legislative scheduling and floor consideration.
