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Bill aims to prevent repeat of Freehold High School diploma mill debacle
Legislation to create more stringent standards to ensure teachers and school administrators do not abuse school district paid-for tuition assistance programs by attaining bogus degrees was approved Monday by the Assembly Education Committee.
The bipartisan bill, A-3671, stems from an episode at the Freehold Regional High School District where three administrators used $8,700 in taxpayer funds to pay for doctoral "degrees" from Breyer State University - an unaccredited Alabama-based online diploma mill. Before the bogus nature of the degrees was uncovered, the district provided each with a $2,500 salary increase, which was commensurate to being awarded actual doctoral degrees.
"The use of school money to buy a fraudulent degree from a diploma mill is not only academically and professionally dishonest but slap in the face of taxpayers," said Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), chairman of the committee and sponsor of the proposal. "This kind of sham should never be allowed to happen."
The measure would ensure boards of education provide employees with tuition assistance only for academic coursework completed at an accredited higher education institution. It also would require district sign-off on any employee's course of study prior to enrollment in any course for which tuition assistance is sought. Employees also would have to receive and "A" or "B" grade in the course in order to receive a tuition payment. Boards of education would be empowered to set higher standards if they so chose.The bill also is sponsored by Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth). The Education Committee approved the measure 10-0. The bill has been scheduled for a floor vote next Monday.
