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In the five years between 2004 and 2009, the financial stresses affecting New Jersey's families caused enrollment in privately managed schools to decline by 29,810, the Governor's Study Commission report states. Most of those students entered the public school system, and the report calculates and as a result, it is now costing taxpayers more than $430 million a year in increased public school expenses.
The report states it would be far cheaper for taxpayers to provide scholarship assistance to working families so they could once again consider private school options for their children.
The report comes less than a month after Gov. Chris Christie signed the 2010-11 state budget in which he cut $820 million in state aid to schools. Christie is a proponent of more charter schools and allowing students to transfer from inferior school districts.
"I will take its recommendations under consideration," Christie said of the report. "The section of the report supporting tax credits for scholarship programs is especially important. Many states provide such tax credits, and we support providing them here in New Jersey, as well. They would immediately expand the scholarship assistance available to poor and working families, and with it the educational opportunities available to their children."In an effort to keep privately managed schools affordable for families, the report recommends that the state increase funding for the transportation assistance it provides them, by raising it in line with inflation.
The report also recommends an increase in support for nursing services for privately managed schools. Support should also be provided, the report declares, for technology and special education classes.
A failure to keep private schools affordable will cause more school failures, dramatically increase the cost of our public education sector, push up taxes and - the report concludes - further straining the already "perilous state of our economy."
State Education Commissioner Bret Schundler welcomed what he described as the "creative suggestions" offered by the commission, which was established under former Gov. Jon Corzine in December.
"The report highlights the fact that a few thousand dollars of financial assistance can make it possible for a child to attend a privately managed school, and save taxpayers three to five times as much in public education costs," Schundler said.
To view the report click here.
– TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
