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Committee advances bill to change reimbursement rules for remedial services to nonpublic school students (Chapter 192)
Summary
A4854 would create a reimbursement process for districts providing auxiliary and remedial services to eligible nonpublic school students and seeks to address chronic proration that reduces provider payments; witnesses described statutory per‑pupil amounts and large proration gaps and urged fixing formulae so services match statutory intent.
The Assembly Education Committee released Assembly bill A4854, which would direct the commissioner of education to establish a process for reimbursing school districts for costs incurred to provide auxiliary and remedial services to eligible nonpublic school students. Witnesses framed the bill as a fix to long‑standing issues with Chapter 192 funding and proration that leave providers underfunded and students with reduced services.
A sponsor presented background on the program and said the bill does not touch local or state public school funding but rather changes the formula and certain statutory language so that nonpublic schools can fully use funds intended for them. The sponsor told the committee that over the last decade a notable share of allocated funds has been returned to the general fund because of unused, prorated balances.
George Corwell, representing the Archdiocese of Newark, described how statutory per‑pupil amounts have been prorated to levels far below the statutory figure and urged adjustments so providers receive adequate funding. Corwell cited historical numbers from submitted attachments and testified that statutory amounts (cited in his testimony as "19.70" in the record) contrasted with actual paid amounts (he cited "8.66") after proration. Mary, assistant superintendent for the Archdiocese of Newark, told the committee that proration has forced larger class sizes, reduced service hours, and programs ending mid‑year when funds run out.
Committee members thanked witnesses, expressed concern about reduced services and the program's long‑term effects, and moved to release A4854. A roll‑call vote was recorded with affirmative votes from members present and the clerk announced the bill advances. The hearing record did not include a precise fiscal impact statement or an implementation timeline; witnesses characterized this bill as a first step toward a more comprehensive overhaul of Chapter 192.
