A1574

An Act concerning State school aid for certain school districts.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Pandemic Education Relief Act.”

2. a. In addition to the amount of State school aid provided to a school district pursuant to P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.) in the 2023-2024 school year, a school district that experienced a reduction in State school aid in any of the school years 2019-2020 through 2023-2024 pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2018, c.67 (C.18A:7F-68) shall receive an amount of State school aid that is equal to the total amount of reductions experienced by the district.

b. A school district that receives State school aid pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall only use the funds for academic purposes and to address learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Allowable uses of funds allocated to a school district pursuant to this section shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) implementing or improving evidenced-based learning interventions, such as summer learning or summer enrichment; comprehensive before-school or after-school programs; tutoring or extra help programs; and increasing the length of the school day or school year;

(2) implementing strategies, programs, and interventions that respond to students’ social and emotional needs;

(3) providing mental health services and supports to students;

(4) hiring additional instructional staff for the purpose of increasing student learning opportunities;

(5) increasing salaries of current staff who are assuming new educational responsibilities as a result of the implementation of new academic programs or interventions; and

(6) purchasing supplemental educational materials and technology.

c. A school district that receives State school aid pursuant to this section shall not use the funds for:

(1) school facilities projects or capital maintenance projects, as those terms are defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-3), or to finance the costs of any other maintenance, repairs, or improvements to school facilities; and

(2) increasing the salaries of current school staff, except as otherwise authorized pursuant to paragraph (5) of subsection b. of this section.

d. (1) A school district that receives State school aid pursuant to this section shall, at intervals to be determined by the Commissioner of Education, report to the commissioner the specific ways in which the district used funds allocated to it pursuant to this section during the applicable reporting period. No later than 30 days following the enactment of this act, the commissioner shall notify school districts of the manner and form in which the districts are to report the uses of funds allocated pursuant to this section.

(2) In the event that a school district, after reporting its uses of funds to the commissioner, is determined to have expended funds for purposes that are not consistent with the allowable uses enumerated pursuant subsection b. of this section, the commissioner may withhold State aid to the district in an amount equal to that which was expended for a non-allowable use.

(3) No later than 60 days after the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year, the commissioner shall prepare and submit to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a report concerning school districts’ uses of funds allocated pursuant to this section.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill, which is to be known as the “Pandemic Education Relief Act,” provides that, in the 2023-2024 school year, a school district that experienced a reduction in State school aid in any of the school years 2019-2020 through 2023-2024 would receive an amount of State school aid equal to the total amount of reductions experienced by the district. The bill requires a school district receiving aid under the bill to only use the funds for academic purposes and to address learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill stipulates that the aid may not be spent on school facilities projects or other maintenance, repairs, or improvements to school facilities. School districts would also be prohibited from using the funds for increasing the salaries of current school staff, unless the funds are used to increase salaries for staff who are assuming new educational responsibilities.

The bill also requires school districts to report to the Commissioner of Education how they use the aid received under the bill. In the event that a school district uses the funds for a non-allowable purpose, the commissioner is authorized to withhold State aid to the district in an amount equal to that which was expended for the non-allowable purpose.