As the New Jersey budget makes its way through the legislative process before being signed into law, an additional $4,000,000 was added to the Nonpublic Auxiliary Services Aid fund, which pays for remedial services and tutors for nonpublic school children in New Jersey. In addition, the nonpublic school technology initiative received an additional $1,000,000.
For two years, the Auxiliary Services Aid fund has been one of the Agudah's top legislative priorities. The fund's allocation has remained static even while the student population was growing. This left the fund woefully inadequate in properly servicing our children's educational needs. In 2020, the Agudah-led advocacy effort resulted in the legislature adding $6,000,000 to the overall allocation, the first such increase in over a decade. This year, the budget proposal calls for another increase of $4,000,000 in addition to last years increase, bringing the total allocation increase to some $10,000,000.
While the budget process remains ongoing and is not finalized until the Governor signs the budget into law, Agudah's New Jersey's office director, Rabbi Avi Schnall, is confident that these gains will remain in place, and the increased allocations will result in enhanced services for our children. "Governor Murphy and the New Jersey legislature have once again proven themselves to be dedicated to the education of all New Jersey's students," said Rabbi Schnall. In addition, Rabbi Schnall thanked Deputy Assembly Speaker Gary Schaer, who has led the effort for increased funding in the New Jersey legislature. "Assemblyman Schaer has been a tireless advocate for the state's nonpublic school children, and we are grateful for his leadership," said Rabbi Schnall.
The budget proposal now heads to the New Jersey legislature for a full vote before going to the Governor's desk where it awaits Governor Phil Murphy's signature.
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