ISSUE: Chapter 192 (Compensatory Education) provides remedial instruction in Language Arts and Mathematics for students in nonpublic schools. However, the program services have been reduced as a result of an increase in enrollment in the Compensatory Education over the past several years. Much of this has been due to increased enrollment in nonpublic because parents have found our schools to be an effective option because these schools provided face to face instruction during the years of the pandemic.
Although the per-service funding for Compensatory Education was increased for the 2022-2023 school year from $995.33, an amount which had remained in effect since the 2008-2009 school year, to $1,040.33, the projected increase in enrollment in the program caused a proration which decreased the per-services amount to $988.31. In effect, we would need at least $2 million to be added in the Budget to come close to the $1,040.00 figure. However, this $2 million would be insufficient to avoid proration. More funding would be needed to the reach $1,300 per service, the amount necessary to ensure nonpublic school students receive the services they require.
OUR
POSITION: The New Jersey Catholic Conference, the New Jersey Network of Catholic School Families, and others fully support this issue in order to remediate children in compensatory education and to increase their success for the future.
ACTION: Call, write or email the Office of Governor Phil Murphy and indicate that the funding for nonpublic school Chapter 192 programs is inadequate to provide the services needed. The amount listed in the Budget language should be at least $1,300.00 PER SERVICE and increased funding should be included in the Budget in order to provide additional time for the teaching of these subject areas. See the enclosed Talking Points for additional details.
Mailing Address The Honorable Phil Murphy
Governor of the State of New Jersey
The State House
P.O. Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Phone: (609) 292-6000
Email: https://nj.gov/governor/contact/all/
You can also contact Governor Murphy through the NJCC Voter Voice System
https://www.votervoice.net/NJCC/Campaigns/99893/Respond