SENATE, No. 2660

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 4, 2018

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  VIN GOPAL

District 11 (Monmouth)

Senator  PAUL A. SARLO

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes salary reimbursement program for teachers in nonpublic schools who teach science, mathematics, or technology in certain grades.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

 


An Act establishing a salary reimbursement program for certain nonpublic school teachers and supplementing chapter 58 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    As used in this act:

     a.     “Eligible teacher” means a person who is employed by a nonpublic school who teaches science, mathematics, or technology in the nonpublic school in any of the grades from three through 12, and who meets one of the following criteria: (1) holds a valid certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners to teach in the public schools of New Jersey; (2) holds a master’s degree or Ph.D. in science, mathematics, technology, or education; or (3) holds a bachelor’s degree in science, mathematics, technology, or education and is currently enrolled in a master’s or Ph.D. program in science, mathematics, technology, or education within five years from the later of the effective date of this act or the start date of employment with the nonpublic school.

     b.    “Nonpublic school” means an elementary or secondary school within the State, other than a public school, offering education for grades kindergarten through 12, or any combination of them, wherein any child may legally fulfill compulsory school attendance requirements and which complies with the requirements of Title VI of the "Civil Rights Act of 1964," Pub.L.88-352 (42 U.S.C. s.2000d et seq.).

 

     2.    a.  There is established in the Department of Education a salary reimbursement program that permits nonpublic schools to receive reimbursement for the salaries of eligible teachers who teach science, mathematics, or technology in grades three through 12.  A nonpublic school that seeks reimbursement for an eligible teacher’s salary shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Education.  The commissioner shall prescribe the manner, forms, and documentation required for the applications and the submission deadlines for each school year.

     b.    Reimbursement to nonpublic schools, upon application, shall be made within the limit of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the program.  The amount of reimbursement for an eligible teacher shall be the lesser of: (1) the eligible teacher’s actual salary; or (2) the average comparable teacher salary, per subject area, of public school teachers in the school district in which the nonpublic school is located, multiplied by the percentage of full-time equivalent secular instructional hours completed in the school day per subject area.  No reimbursement shall be provided for an eligible teacher who provides non-secular instruction in any capacity.

     c.     In the event that the total reimbursements requested from nonpublic schools exceed the funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the program, each applicant shall be reimbursed an amount equal to the percentage that each applicant represents to the total of all the applications submitted.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill establishes a salary reimbursement program that allows nonpublic schools to receive reimbursement for the salaries of certain teachers employed by the school who teach science, mathematics, or technology in any of the grades three through 12.  To be eligible for salary reimbursement, the teacher must either: (1) hold a valid certificate to teach in the public schools of New Jersey; (2) hold a master’s degree or Ph.D. in science, mathematics, technology, or education; or (3) hold a bachelor’s degree in science, mathematics, technology, or education and be currently enrolled in a master’s or Ph.D. program in science, mathematics, technology, or education within five years from the later of the effective date of this act or the start date of employment with the nonpublic school.

     Under the bill, nonpublic schools seeking reimbursement for an eligible teacher’s salary will submit an application to the Commissioner of Education in accordance with procedures prescribed by the commissioner.  The amount of reimbursement for an eligible teacher will be the lesser of: (1) the eligible teacher’s actual salary; or (2) the average comparable teacher salary, per subject area, of public school teachers in the school district in which the nonpublic school is located, multiplied by the percentage of full-time equivalent secular instructional hours completed in the school day per subject area.  No reimbursement will be provided for an eligible teacher, however, if the teacher provides non-secular instruction in any capacity.

     Under the bill, if the total reimbursements requested from nonpublic schools exceed the funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the program, each applicant will be reimbursed an amount equal to the percentage that each applicant represents to the total of all applications submitted.