Nonpublic Schools to Receive STEM Funding for the First Time
TEANECK, New Jersey – Teach NJ, the leading advocate for equitable funding for New Jersey’s nonpublic schools, secured a historic victory by championing the landmark STEM education bill, which Gov. Murphy signed into law today. The New Jersey State Legislature overwhelmingly passed the bill earlier this summer, which will provide grants for STEM teachers in nonpublic schools for the first time in the state’s history. The bill (S.2660) was signed by the governor today and will take effect immediately.
The bill establishes a STEM program that will help provide nonpublic school children with the resources essential to succeeding in the technologically driven society of tomorrow. STEM spending is highly correlated with students’ eventual earning power, higher education and STEM degrees. Primary sponsors of the bill were Senators Paul Sarlo (D-36) and Vin Gopal (D-11) and Assembly Members Joann Downey (D-11), Eric Houghtaling (D-11) and Gary Schaer (D-36). Assembly Members Daniel Benson (D-14), Wayne DeAngelo (D-14), Gordon Johnson (D-37), Pamela Lampitt (D-6), Yvonne Lopez (D-19) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-37) co-sponsored the bill.
“We are extremely grateful to Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Steven Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin for making the STEM education bill a reality. We would also like to thank Assemblymember Gary Schaer for leading the effort on introducing and passing the STEM bill and for being a stalwart champion of our mission to secure equitable funding for nonpublic schools. Through the joint efforts of our partners in advocacy, we have made history for our schools in New Jersey,” said Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane.
“This historic STEM bill will help our schools maintain the highest quality STEM education and prepare our students for New Jersey’s innovation economy,” said Ben Porat Yosef’s Head of School Rabbi Saul Zucker.
“We were able to pass this bill in large part due to our community’s strong voice being heard by our elected officials. We encourage more parents, grandparents, teachers and school administrators to get involved because the greater our voice, the more we can achieve to benefit our schools. It’s important that people join us and act for our children,” said Teach NJ Chairman Samuel Moed.
Teach NJ, a division of the Teach Coalition, was founded in 2015 to advocate for equitable government funding for New Jersey nonpublic schools. It has secured an additional $100 million in funding for nonpublic schools, which is used to increase security, enhance education and defray higher tuition costs. Approximately 170 day schools and yeshivas receive support through Teach NJ’s efforts.
For more information, visit https://teachcoalition.org/nj/