New Jersey

Existing Programs:

None.

Legislature Status:

In session.

Pending legislation:

Assembly Bill 52
“Education Grant”
Gives grant to child to attend a public or private school in another district. The bill was introduced on Jan. 10, 2012 by John DiMiao, R-Washington, and has yet to leave committee.

Assembly Bill 1050
“New Jersey Parental Rights Program Act”
Gives voucher to any child to attend private school. The bill was introduced on Jan. 10, 2012 by Anthony Bucco, Jr., R-Rudolph, and has yet to leave committee.

Assembly Bill 1961
“Nonpublic Schools Gross Income Tax Deduction”
Creates tax deduction for expenses related to private school education. The bill was introduced on Jan. 10, 2012 by Rep. Caroline Casagrande, R-Freehold, and has yet to leave committee.

Assembly Bill 2828
“Opportunity Scholarship Act”
Creates pilot tax credit scholarship program for low-income children. The bill was introduced on May 10, 2012 by Rep. David Rible, Wall Township, and has yet to leave committee.

Assembly Bill 2830
“Opportunity Scholarship Act”
Gives vouchers to low-income children to attend private school. It was introduced on May 10, 2012 by Angel Fuentes, D-Camden, and has yet to leave committee.

Assembly Bill 3875
“Parental Rights and Property Tax Reduction Act”
Gives vouchers to any child to attend private school. The bill was introduced on Feb. 26, 2013 by Rep. Anthony M. Bucco, Jr., R-Randolph, and has yet to leave committee.

Senate Bill 504
“New Jersey Parental Rights Program Act”
Gives vouchers to any child to attend public school. The bill was introduced on Jan. 10, 2012 by Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Denville, and has made it out of committee.

Senate Bill 1779
“Opportunity Scholarship Act”
Would create a 5-year pilot tax credit scholarship program for low-income children. The bil was introduced on March 8, 2012 by Sen. Thomas Kean, R-Westfield, and has yet to leave committee.

Senate Bill 2614
“Parental Rights and Property Tax Reduction Act”
Gives voucher to any child to attend private school. The bill was introduced on March 4, 2013 by Anthony R. Bucco, R-Denville, and has yet to leave committee.

Breakdown:

New Jersey has been the site of a prolonged debate over private school choice, starting in the 1990s. School vouchers have been proposed time and time again in the, but have never been voted through the legislature. This session, Governor Chris Christie proposed a $2 million voucher program for low-income children in his biennial budget. Ultimately, the voucher language was removed.

Both Christie and Newark Mayor Corey Booker (now a potential U.S. senator) are supporters for school choice, and have spoken at events sponsored by the American Federation for Children.

Get more information on ALEC education bills introduced in New Jersey in 2013:

• The Charter Schools Act (A 4177)
• The Family Education Savings Account Act (A 3959)

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