ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4361  

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 18, 2023

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4361 (1R).

This bill establishes the “VETeach Pilot Program” in the Department of Education.  The purpose of the pilot program is to address the shortage of certified public school teachers by taking advantage of the qualified workforce represented by the State’s veterans.

     Under the pilot program, a participating four-year public institution of higher education will enroll, in a 36-month teacher preparation program, veterans who served in the armed forces on or after September 11, 2001.  The program will lead to a baccalaureate degree and completion of the requirements necessary to apply to the State Board of Examiners for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, which will authorize the veteran to seek employment as a teacher in grades kindergarten through eight, and in certain secondary education fields.

     Under the bill, a four-year public institution of higher education that wishes to participate in the pilot program is to submit an application to the Commissioner of Education in a form prescribed by the commissioner.  The commissioner is to select up to four institutions to participate in the pilot program.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 4361 is identical to Senate Bill No. 2764, which was also reported by the committee on this date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates that this bill would lead to an annual increase in State expenditures over the four-year duration of the VETeach Pilot Program.  The increase in State expenditures, excluding administrative costs, would correspond to a revenue gain for participating four-year public institutions of higher education.

      The OLS finds the costs of the program to be indeterminate and contingent on the size of the cohort of students enrolled under the pilot program.