SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3537

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 5, 2024

     The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 3537.

     This bill requires the State to bear a partial cost of the transportation of certain homeless students to school. 

     Under current law, when a homeless child attends school in the district of residence while temporarily residing in another district, the district of residence is required to provide for transportation to and from school.  This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district of residence.

     Current law also permits any student who moves from one school district to another as a result of being homeless due to an act of terrorism or a natural disaster to remain in the original district for two years, provided that the student’s parent or guardian remains homeless for that period.  In this circumstance, the original district is required to provide transportation to the student.  This bill requires the State to bear any cost for that transportation that exceeds the average per pupil cost for transportation services in the district in which the parent or guardian last resided prior to becoming homeless.