SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4678

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 10, 2025

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 4678.

      This bill modifies the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher (STEM) grant program to permit retired teachers to teach in nonpublic schools under the program.  The bill also authorizes the inclusion of active or retired teachers who may teach some other STEM subject or area, to be eligible teachers under the program. The bill also authorizes the payment of grant funds directly to the eligible teacher.

      In 2019, the Legislature established the STEM grant program pursuant to P.L 2019, c.256.  Under the program, participating nonpublic schools form partnerships with eligible teachers and school districts, in which an eligible teacher employed by the district teaches STEM classes at the nonpublic school.  The Commissioner of Education awards grants to participating school districts to provide compensation to participating teachers.

      This bill allows a STEM teacher who was previously employed by the school district to teach STEM, but is now retired and receiving a retirement allowance under the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund, to qualify as an eligible teacher under the program, and establishes a formula for the calculation of a retired teacher’s remuneration.  The bill also authorizes a currently employed or retired teacher who teaches or taught a STEM subject or area other than science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or computer science to participate in the program. The bill provides that the grant funds for the payment of an eligible teacher’s salary will be forwarded by the Department of Education directly to the eligible teacher rather than through the school district.  The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Education to contract with a third party to administer grant fund payments.

      Finally, the bill appropriates $3.5 million for the program.