Sponsored by:
Senator RICHARD J. CODEY
District 27 (Essex)
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Mercer)
Senator JENNIFER BECK
District 12 (Mercer and Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Bateman
SYNOPSIS
Requires certain conditions be met in order for school districts to provide their employees with tuition assistance for coursework or additional compensation upon acquisition of academic credits or completion of a degree program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain benefits for school district employees and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In order for a board of education to provide to an employee tuition assistance for coursework taken at an institution of higher education or additional compensation upon the acquisition of additional academic credits or completion of a degree program at an institution of higher education:
a. The institution shall be a duly authorized institution of higher education as defined in section 3 of P.L.1986, c.87 (C.18A:3-15.3);
b. The employee shall obtain approval from the superintendent of schools prior to enrollment in any course for which tuition assistance is sought. Prior approval from the superintendent shall also be required for the payment of any additional compensation upon acquisition of additional academic credits or completion of a degree program. In the case of a superintendent, the approvals shall be obtained from the board of education;
c. The employee shall attain a grade at or above a 3.00 in each course for which tuition assistance is sought, when a 4.00 equals an A grade;
d. The tuition assistance per credit shall equal an amount no greater than the current average cost per credit at Rutgers, The State University;
e. The tuition assistance shall be provided at the end of the course and upon receipt by the district of the course grade and confirmation of the payment of tuition, provided that the employee is an employee of the school district at the time the tuition assistance is provided. If the employee leaves the district within one year of the payment of the tuition assistance, the employee shall be responsible for reimbursing the district for the amount of the tuition assistance; and
f. The tuition assistance or additional compensation shall be provided only for a course or degree related to the employee’s current or future job responsibilities.
2. This act shall take effect on July 1 of the school year next following the date of enactment, except that this act shall not be deemed to impair an obligation set forth in a collective negotiations agreement or an individual contract of employment in effect on the effective date.
STATEMENT
This bill requires that in order for a board of education to provide its employees tuition assistance for academic coursework at an institution of higher education or additional compensation upon the acquisition of additional academic credits or completion of a degree program at an institution of higher education:
1) The institution of higher education must be a “duly authorized institution of higher education,” which is defined in law as an in-State institution licensed by the Commission on Higher Education or an out-of-State institution licensed by the appropriate state agency and regionally accredited or seeking accreditation by the appropriate accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Education or the United States Department of Education;
2) The employee must obtain approval from the superintendent of schools prior to enrollment in any course for which tuition assistance is sought. Prior approval must also be required for the payment of any additional compensation upon acquisition of additional academic credits or completion of a degree program. In the case of a superintendent of schools, the approvals must be obtained from the board of education;
3) The employee must attain a grade at or above a “B” in each course for which tuition assistance is sought;
4) The tuition assistance per credit must be set at an amount no greater than the current average cost per credit at Rutgers, The State University;
5) The tuition assistance may only be provided at the end of the course and upon receipt by the district of the course grade earned by the employee and confirmation of the payment of tuition, provided that the employee is an employee of the school district at the time the tuition assistance is provided. If the employee leaves the district within one year of the payment of the tuition assistance, the employee must reimburse the district for the amount of the tuition assistance provided; and
6) The course or degree must be related to the employee’s current or future job responsibilities in order for tuition assistance or additional compensation to be paid.
The bill would become effective on July 1 of the school year next following the date of enactment. However, the provisions of the bill will not be deemed to impair an obligation set forth in any collective negotiations agreement or any individual contract of employment in effect on that July 1.