A bill before the state legislature that would allow students to attend a school of choice received a broad range of support in a press conference at the New Jersey Statehouse on March 25.

The Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act (A-2897; S-1607) is a five-year pilot program that would allow eligible low-income children in Camden, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Lakewood, Newark, Orange, Paterson and Trenton to receive a scholarship to attend a public or non-public school. The program would be funded through tax credits for contributions on N.J. Corporate Business Tax Filings that would bring $24 million to participating public and private schools in the first year in an attempt to improve the education for underserved urban students.

Bishop Thomas Donato, the regional bishop for Hudson County, Archdiocese of Newark, represented the Catholic bishops of New Jersey, who support the bill.

"This bill would enable the students to receive the quality education that is their right," Bishop Donato said during the press conference. "Catholic education in New Jersey has provided quality education that is their right," Bishop Donato said during the press conference. "Catholic education in New Jersey has provided quality education, saving the state millions of dollars.

"This bill will allow our children, especially those in the urban areas and who are minorities, to receive a good education," he said.

The Senate version of the bill is stalled in a budget committee, after passing through the economic growth committee last May. It has not been scheduled for introduction in the Assembly.

After the press conference Bishop Donato noted that this bill has the potential to save local school districts millions of dollars. Whenever Catholic schools close, local school taxes will increase because the students from closed Catholic schools will be attending public schools.

In emphasizing the quality of Catholic schools, Bishop Donato indicated that the primary reason for students leaving Catholic schools is that their parents cannot afford the tuition – even though the parents may be working two or even three jobs. Unlike parents in more affluent communities, who might be able to move to a school district with better schools or perhaps be able to afford to send their children to private schools, the typical parent of a Catholic school student in an urban area does not have the money to move or to send their children to private schools.

The bottom line, according to the bishop, is that passage of the Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act (A-2897; S-1607) would decrease the taxpayer burden for the public school system, while at the same time, providing help to keep Catholic schools open and offering an excellent educational alternative to students.

Bishop Donato noted that more than 80 percent of New Jersey Catholic children attend public schools; consequently, the Church supports the improvement and success of all public schools.

"We made a strong plea, and we are hopeful this bill will pass," he said.

Also addressing the press conference was Martin Perez, president of the Latino Leadership Alliance of N.J., who told those assembled that the minority community would no longer support politicians who did not support quality education for minority children. There were other clergy on hand from the Jewish community and members of the N.J. School Choice Alliance.

Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, executive director of the Black Ministers Council of N.J. was the primary speaker at the press conference. In strong terms, he condemned the New Jersey educational system, particularly as it relates to urban minorities.

"The minority community demands that our leaders act on principle, not on expediency," he said. "We must do what is best for our children."

The bill’s sponsors include assembly members Nisa Cruz-Perez (D-5), of Camden, Joseph Cryan (D-20), of Union, Declan O’Scanion (R-12), Jay Webber, (R-26) of Morris Plains, Dave Wolfe (R-10) Brick; and Joe Malone (R-30), Bordentown. In the Senate, primary sponsors are Raymond Lesniak (D-20), Union; and Tom Kean (R-21), of Westfield.