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Assembly committee backs $3 million annual proposal to fund Freedom Schools
Summary
The committee favorably released A1732, which would appropriate $3 million annually from cannabis social equity excise fees to the Department of State to support Freedom Schools; educators and advocates urged larger funding and cited measurable literacy gains from pilot sites.
The Assembly Education Committee voted to favorably release Assembly Bill A1732, a measure that would appropriate $3,000,000 annually from cannabis social equity excise fee revenue to the Department of State to support Freedom Schools in New Jersey.
Sponsor remarks and multiple witness statements emphasized literacy gains and culturally responsive summer and out-of-school programming. Diana Rogers, executive director of the Greater Mount Zion Community Development Corporation and sponsor of a local Freedom School program, told the committee her inaugural site saw 92.9% of participating scholars maintain or improve reading scores during a six-week program and that some students advanced multiple grade levels in reading.
Raquel Romans Henry of Salvation and Social Justice and Paula White of JerseyCAN testified in support and urged larger funding levels — Henry asked the committee to consider increasing the appropriation to $10,000,000 — arguing demand far outstrips current resources. Testimony described Freedom Schools as literacy- and youth-development programs modeled on the Children’s Defense Fund framework, combining academic instruction with social-emotional learning and parent engagement.
Assembly members noted the funding source — the state cannabis social equity excise fee — and several members voiced support while acknowledging geographic limitations on which communities generate that revenue. The motion to release the bill passed with committee members recorded voting yes: Assemblymembers Fantasia, Simonson, Brennan, Venezia, Swain, Begoli and Chairwoman Reynolds Jackson.
The committee left the bill with a favorable report to the next legislative steps; sponsors and witnesses said they will continue to advocate for expanded funding to scale programs into underserved communities.
