New Jersey nonpublic school students have been granted increased funding for transportation – a much-needed boost that may give Catholic schools a more attractive financial standpoint from which to accept transportation bids.
Passed by both Houses of the New Jersey Legislature, and signed by Gov. Phil Murphy on June 30, the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget allows a per-pupil ceiling raise to $1,165 from $1,022. The budget also contained modest increases in technology, nursing service and compensatory education.
Increased funding for nonpublic school transportation has been a leading issue for the New Jersey Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops. With the shortage of bus drivers created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the budget increase will allow for more transportation routes and additional drivers.
Dr. George Corwell, NJCC’s director of education, testified March 27 before the Assembly Budget Committee in Trenton on behalf of NJCC and the New Jersey Council for American Private Education (NJ CAPE), speaking to the challenges nonpublic schools face in getting children to school reliably and safely.
“The problem finding school bus drivers continues to be a disaster for the nonpublic school community,” Dr. Corwell said in his testimony. “Transportation is the lifeblood of nonpublic schools, and to lose significant amounts of transportation affects the enrollment of nonpublic schools, even causing possible school closures.”
He emphasized the burden placed on parents who “are unable to transport their child to a nonpublic school because they are working multiple jobs to pay tuition,” which creates an even greater need for safe, reliable transportation for students, many of whom come from underserved communities.
Acknowledging that the fiscal year’s increase of $143 per-pupil is helpful, Dr. Corwell maintained that additional funding is needed to maintain a healthy transportation infrastructure – particularly when considering the savings that nonpublic schools provide state and local budgets when parents enroll their children in nonpublic education.
“We are truly grateful to our supporters in the Legislature who fought on behalf of parents who deserve the right to have their children transported to the school of their choice,” Dr. Corwell said. “But funding remains at a lower level than is necessary because 85 percent of nonpublic routes are run by private contractors with no limit on their profit margin.”
James King, NJCC’s executive director, expressed appreciation for the efforts of Dr. Corwell, members of NJ CAPE and Catholics across the state who contacted their legislators to raise awareness about nonpublic school transportation.
“The outcome of this effort provides proof that when Catholics join together, we become a louder, stronger voice with an increased ability to help pass laws that make New Jersey a better place for all who call it home,” King said.
EmmaLee Italia is a contributing editor with The Monitor, the magazine for the Diocese of Trenton.
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