Lesniak Declares Funds for Students Not a 'Voucher'
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The bill would create a pilot program of corporate tax credit scholarships to benefit students living in eight underperforming school districts, providing them with the opportunity for a better education that will make them more productive employees in the future. Under the proposed legislation, the scholarships offered to students would help ensure they can gain the skills needed for their own future success in the 21st century workforce.
A similar version of the bill is expected to be introduced soon in the Assembly. If enacted by the full state legislature, the Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act will move New Jersey closer to providing children in some of the most densely populated and failing public school districts in the state with true alternatives to failing schools, and help ease the burden and lessen the cost of providing a thorough and efficient education in the state of New Jersey.
A scholarship program funded by tax credits has been operating successfully in all counties in Pennsylvania for several years and has received wide support-not only from business and civic communities, but also from that state's public school teacher's union as well.
Speaking in favor of the proposed legislation was Most Rev. Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Regional Bishop of Essex County, where two of the pilot urban districts-Newark and Orange-are to be located.
At present, the average cost to educate a child in a public school in New Jersey is $15,000; in some of the districts slated for inclusion in the bill, the average cost can approach $20,000 or more. By comparison, the average cost to educate a child in a Catholic elementary school in New Jersey is about $5,000.
The Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act will enable selected scholarship organizations to award annual scholarships of up to $6,000 per student attending an elementary school (public or private) and up to $9,000 for high school, of his or her parents' choice. Some 20,000 students are anticipated to become beneficiaries of the scholarship program over its five-year pilot phase. The reduction of the number of students in the affected public school districts during this period is sure to have beneficial effects not only on the students' chances at academic achievement, but also on the financial picture of the school districts themselves, thus benefiting the taxpayers of the state.
In his introduction of the legislation at the May 8 hearing in Trenton, Sen. Raymond Lesniak, chair of the Economic Growth Committee, said he has been a strong supporter of public education in the state for years, but that the financial condition of the state at this time has led him and others to consider alternatives. He also stated throughout the three hours of the hearings that S1607 is not a "voucher" bill-as some claim-but rather an alternative-funding mechanism that will not divert any current funds from the state's education budget for the term of the pilot phase of this legislation.
Speaking in favor of the proposed legislation was Most Rev. Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Regional Bishop of Essex County, where two of the pilot urban districts-Newark and Orange-are to be located.
"This is important because quality education for all children, delivered in a manner that is equitable for the taxpayers of New Jersey, is a goal that we all share," Bishop da Cunha said in his testimony. "We meet people in all walks of life-government, business, academics, clergy-successful people who are productive in their endeavors and went through our Catholic education programs."
Bishop da Cunha also spoke strongly of the 150-year role that Catholic schools have played in the general education plan of the state. "We educate students of all faiths because we believe in the parable of the Good Samaritan," he said. "As is the case with Catholic Charities, our schools educate all, whether or not they are Catholics."
He went on to point out that, in inner-city parochial schools throughout the state, some 80 percent of students are non-Catholic. He also mentioned that there are no metal detectors in Catholic schools and that many of the Catholic schools in cities such as Newark do not have locks on their lockers. The bishop also spoke of his years as a pastor of Saint Michael's Parish in Newark, which sponsors the largest Catholic elementary school in the archdiocese.
"We live today in a very different reality from decades ago when Catholic schools were staffed by Religious brothers and sisters," he said, noting that while parents have complained to him over the years that the schools in cities like Newark do not meet their needs, they often feel they have no other choice, because even modest tuition is beyond their means.
"We must all work hard to find a way to help all those children whose families are trying desperately to send their youngster to private and parochial schools, especially when public schools are unable to meet their needs," he said.
Bishop da Cunha noted that the 143,000 children who attend Catholic schools throughout New Jersey already provide significant savings to the state's taxpayers-something not to be overlooked in such difficult economic times.
"These are the same families that are struggling under the ever-growing burden of New Jersey property taxes and daily living expenses," he said. "If all of these children presently in New Jersey Catholic schools were enrolled in a public school, it would cost the taxpayers of the state over one billion dollars in additional costs in education."
Mary Rone, a long-time advocate for public housing tenants in Newark, spoke of the desperation that so many Newark families feel because the public schools are not preparing their children to be productive members of society. And in not meeting this basic need, she told the committee that parents are frustrated and looking for leadership and vision from the legislature. The Jobs Scholarship Act would provide an important and necessary alternative, and a certain chance for success for these children.
Among the individuals testifying against the bill was Joyce Powell of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA)-the state's public teachers union. Calling it a taxpayer giveaway, she claimed that, if passed, the Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act would draw away the best students from public schools, harm New Jersey's urban public schools and drive the state deeper into financial crisis.
To support her contention, Powell stated that nonpublic schools in New Jersey do not have to educate special needs students, do not require teacher certification, and do not have to adhere to the state's core curriculum standards.
Countering her testimony was that of George V. Corwell, Ed. D., associate director for Education of the Trenton-based New Jersey Catholic Conference. Corwell stated that, in fact, nonpublic schools in New Jersey meet the educational needs of some 35,700 special needs students, "and that implying anything else is a slap in the face to those students." He also informed the committee and public attending the hearing that over 95 percent of Catholic school teachers are certified and that many hold advanced degrees. Further, he said, it is likely that happy, high achieving students will remain in their current schools, and only those who are not succeeding would consider leaving for an alternative reason such as academics or safety.
Corwell added that the charter school movement had clearly shown that lowachieving students are the ones to take advantage of alternatives, contrary to the NJEA's claims. He added that, while not required by the state, New Jersey's Catholic schools voluntarily adhere to the same core curriculum standards as public schools.
In a nod to many thousands who are supporting the efforts of legislators to bring about positive change in education opportunities, Corwell spoke of the urgency of the issue in classic financial terms-time and money. "The state is out of money, and the children are out of time," he declared.
Senators voting in favor of the bill were Committee Chair Raymond Lesniak (DElizabeth); Steven V. Oroho (R- Sparta); and Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr. (R-Middletown). Sen. Teresa M. Ruiz (D-Newark), voted against the bill.
The Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act seeks to provide corporate tax credits to businesses that contribute to appropriate organizations that provide scholarships to children to attend either a public or nonpublic school of their parents' choice. No funding from the state education budget will be reallocated or deleted because of this bill.
The eight cities currently considered by the bills include Newark, Orange, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Trenton, Camden, Paterson and Lakewood. The Assembly version of the bill is expected to include the city of Passaic as well when the Assembly Education Committee considers it. Should that version of the bill be approved, the Senate version will be amended.
