149 North Warren Street · Trenton,
New Jersey 08608
(609) 989-1120 · Fax (609) 989-1152
E-mail: info@njcathconf.com
Web:
www.njcathconf.com
William
F. Bolan, Jr., J.D.
Executive
Director
CONTACT: George V. Corwell, Ed.D. For
Immediate Release
(609) 989-1120 ext. 16 Exclusive
to Diocesan Editors
July
25, 2006
NJCC
Addresses State and Federal Education Budget Issues
The
New Jersey Catholic Conference has responded to several key educational issues
in the FY’07 Budgets at both the State and Federal levels.
Dr.
George Corwell, Associate Director for Education for the New Jersey Catholic
Conference, noted that the major issue at the State level was obtaining a
modest increase in the ceiling for nonpublic school transportation. Dr. Corwell observed that, “in spite of the
difficulty in enacting a State Budget, the nonpublic school community was able
to receive an increase commensurate with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to help
to offset the anticipated increased cost in nonpublic school
transportation.” The ceiling for
nonpublic school transportation moved from $794 to $826 as a result of the
efforts of the New Jersey Catholic Conference, the New Jersey Network of
Catholic School Families, and other interested nonpublic school
supporters.
On
the Federal level, Dr. Corwell believes that much work still needs to be
done. “Titles II-D, IV, and V of No
Child Left Behind are facing dramatic cuts or even elimination,” he
stated. “There are currently different
funding levels for these programs, depending upon the separate recommendations
of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.”
The
New Jersey Catholic Conference has issued an Action Alert for all interested
parties to assist in restoring reasonable funding levels for these
programs. All three programs affect both
public and nonpublic school children.
Title II-D offers support for technology, with special assistance to
districts with high concentrations of poverty.
Title IV is known as the “Safe and Drug Free Schools Act,” which
provides funding for a variety of anti-drug education programs in schools. Title V, also termed “Innovative Programs,”
provides flexible funding for the unique needs of students in all schools. This funding source would also provide the
means to improve the infrastructure of schools in support of New Jersey’s Safe
School Initiative.
The
New Jersey Catholic Conference is urging all interested individuals to speak
with the offices of Senators Lautenberg and Menendez, as well as the offices of
their respective members of the House of Representatives, in order to keep
these programs alive. Suggested national
levels for each program are as follows:
Title II-D $496M, Title IV-A $437.4M and Title V $296.5M. These levels represent the FY’05 spending
levels for Titles II-D and IV and the FY’04 funding level for Title V.
Representing the Archdiocese of
Newark, Diocese of Camden, Diocese of Metuchen,
Diocese of
Our Lady of Deliverance
Syriac Catholic Diocese
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