LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[First Reprint]
SENATE, No. 2833
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
DATED: MAY 17, 2021
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
Establishes Teacher Apprenticeship Program. |
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Type of Impact: |
Annual State and local cost increase; annual cost increases to four year institutions of higher education |
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Agencies Affected: |
Department of Education; Office of the Secretary of Higher Education; Local School Districts; Four-Year Institutions of Higher Education. |
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Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
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Annual Fiscal Impact |
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State Cost Increase |
Indeterminate |
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Local School District Cost Increase |
Indeterminate |
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Four-Year Institutions of Higher Education Cost Increase |
Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) determines that this bill may lead to indeterminate, annual cost increases to the Department of Education (DOE), local school districts, and four-year institutions of higher education. The primary driver of these increases under the bill would be the provision of stipends to program participants in each of the three stages of the Teacher Apprenticeship Program.
· The provisions of the bill require a program participant to receive a yearly stipend award during each of three stages associated with the program, as follows: 1) $2,000 during stage one of the program; 2) $10,000 per year during stage two of the program; and 3) $15,000 during stage three of the program. The OLS cannot estimate the levels of program participation among public high school students entering grade 12 and paraprofessionals with an associate degree who are employed in a public school and will be eligible for the apprenticeship program, and so cannot determine the scope of program costs.
· The bill does not explicitly specify the source of funds for these stipends. The OLS assumes that the costs of providing these stipends will be primarily borne by the DOE, and that school districts hosting program participants and the institutions of higher education with which these districts partner will also incur costs related to their participation in this program. To the extent that the apprenticeship program drives higher enrollment in four-year institutions of higher education, these institutions could realize additional tuition revenue.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill establishes a Teacher Apprenticeship Program, the purpose of which is to offer stipends and provide program participants with the education and field experience necessary to obtain a New Jersey certificate of eligibility with advanced standing (CEAS), a credential that allows an individual to seek and accept employment as a teacher in a public school. The Teacher Apprenticeship Program is open to public high school students entering grade 12 and paraprofessionals with an associate degree who are employed in a public school and meet certain eligibility criteria. Under the bill, a public school and institution of higher education chosen by the DOE to offer the Teacher Apprenticeship Program will jointly enter into an agreement with the department in which the public school and institution of higher education agree to provide program participants with the education and field experience necessary to obtain a CEAS.
Under this bill, the Teacher Apprenticeship program will be comprised of three stages. Stage one of the program is open to high school students entering grade 12, stage two of the program is open to individuals who have completed stage one of the program and paraprofessionals with an associate degree, and stage three of the program is open to individuals who have completed stage two of the program. Under the bill, a program participant will receive a yearly stipend award, which will be distributed in such manner as determined by the Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of Higher Education. The stipends will be awarded as follows: 1) $2,000 during stage one of the program; 2) $10,000 per year during stage two of the program; and 3) $15,000 during stage three of the program.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS determines that this bill may lead to indeterminate, annual cost increases to the DOE, local school districts, and four-year institutions of higher education. The primary driver of these cost increases under the bill would be the provision of stipends to program participants in each of the three stages of the Teacher Apprenticeship Program. The provisions of the bill require a program participant to receive a yearly stipend award during each of three stages associated with the program, as follows: 1) $2,000 during stage one of the program; 2) $10,000 per year during stage two of the program; and 3) $15,000 during stage three of the program.
The bill provides that program participants will receive a yearly stipend award, which would be distributed in a manner determined by the Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of Higher Education. The bill does not explicitly specify the source of funds for these stipends. The OLS assumes that the costs of providing these stipends will be primarily borne by the DOE and that school districts hosting program participants and the institutions of higher education with which these districts partner will also incur some costs to implement and carry out the program.
The OLS cannot estimate the levels of program participation among public high school students entering grade 12 and paraprofessionals with an associate degree who are employed in a public school, and so cannot determine the scope of program costs. The OLS notes that, according to the Non-Certificated Staff Survey for the 2019-2020 school year, there are 20,236 instructional paraprofessionals and 11,799 non-instructional paraprofessionals across the State.
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Section: |
Education |
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Analyst: |
Associate Fiscal Analyst |
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Approved: |
Thomas Koenig Legislative Budget and Finance Officer |
This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.
This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).