SCR124

A Concurrent Resolution respectfully petitioning the federal government for emergency response funding to support the safe reopening of schools following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whereas, The provision of a thorough and efficient education to all children, representing a constitutional obligation of this State as well as a moral responsibility of this nation, depends upon a commitment to invest in safe school environments in which students can learn and grow; and

Whereas, Following the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor issued a series of executive orders to declare a public health emergency and order the closure of all public, private, and parochial schools in the State; and

Whereas, While the students and teachers of this State worked tirelessly to complete the 2019-2020 school year through remote instruction, the realities of virtual education have limited the academic and social development of many students, especially those who lack access to online instruction; and

Whereas, During this time, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued recommendations concerning the reopening of schools in a manner that protects the health and safety of every student and school employee; and

Whereas, A recent cost analysis conducted by ASSA, The School Superintendents Association and the Association of School Business Officials International suggests that compliance with these CDC recommendations could be cost-prohibitive for many school districts, which are expected to incur additional expenses of at least $490 per student; and

Whereas, According to this analysis, the average school district is expected to incur reopening expenses of nearly $1.8 million, including costs associated with adhering to health monitoring and cleaning protocols, hiring additional staff to implement health and safety protocols, providing personal protective equipment for staff and students, and providing transportation and before and after school programs in accordance with social distancing guidelines; and

Whereas, In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, the federal government enacted the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (CARES Act), which made approximately $310 million available to local education agencies in this State through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSERF); and

Whereas, Although the CARES Act permits local education agencies to use these monies to support various pandemic response and reopening efforts, the current level of federal funding has failed to ensure that every school district possesses the financial resources necessary to safely reopen; and

Whereas, Absent an additional round of federal emergency response funding that dedicates monies toward school reopening efforts, many school districts could be forced to continue remote instruction for the indefinite future or reopen without adequate health and safety protections, thereby potentially causing students and staff to suffer irreversible harm; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey respectfully petitions the Congress and President to enact legislation that provides additional emergency response funding to support the costs of safely reopening schools following the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of the State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice-President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the United States Congress elected from the State of New Jersey.

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution respectfully petitions the federal government to enact legislation that provides additional emergency response funding to support the costs of safely reopening all schools following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor issued a series of executive orders to declare a public health emergency and order the closure of all public, private, and parochial schools in the State. Since that time, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued recommendations concerning the reopening of schools in a manner that protects the health and safety of every student and school employee.

However, a recent cost analysis conducted by ASSA, The School Superintendents Association and the Association of School Business Officials International suggests that compliance with these CDC recommendations could be cost-prohibitive for many school districts, which are expected to incur additional expenses of at least $490 per student.

In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, the federal government enacted the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (CARES Act), which made approximately $310 million available to local education agencies in this State through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSERF). Although the CARES Act permits local education agencies to use these monies to support various pandemic response and reopening efforts, the current level of federal funding has failed to ensure that every school district possesses the financial resources necessary to safely reopen. Absent an additional round of federal emergency response funding that dedicates monies toward school reopening efforts, many school districts could be forced to continue remote instruction for the indefinite future or reopen without adequate health and safety protections, thereby potentially causing students and staff to suffer irreversible harm.