ISSUE: Governor Christie’s Fiscal Year 2015 Budget will be announced in February.  There are several items that could impact nonpublic schools and that will assist nonpublic school students and their parents.

OUR POSITION: The New Jersey Catholic Conference and the New Jersey Network of Catholic School Families has continued to support increases in nonpublic school aid in the Budget in order to assist students and parents in nonpublic schools.  The three areas in order of importance are as follows:
1.    An increase in nonpublic school nursing services aid to $90.00 per student and the removal of language in the Governor’s Budget which limits the per-pupil amount to $77.20.
2.    An increase in $20.00 in nonpublic school technology aid to restore the program to $40.00 per pupil.
3.    An increase in the amount needed for initial examination and classification for students having specific learning difficulties.
ALL OF THESE AREAS ARE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL IN THE ACCOMPANYING FACT SHEETS FOR EACH PROGRAM.  

ACTION: Email or call the office of Governor Chris Christie to ask that he include these increases in the nonpublic school accounts in his Fiscal Year 2015 Education Budget.  
        
You may contact Governor Christie’s office as follows:

Email the Governor – http://nj.gov/governor/contact/
Call the Governor’s office – 609-292-6000

This Action Alert should be repeated periodically between now and the issuing of the Governor’s Budget in mid-February.  Please be persistent in your efforts to provide much-needed assistance for nonpublic schools and their parents.