New Jersey Assembly Bill A3321

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 1/9/24

Caption

Assigns financial responsibility of educating homeless student to district of attendance.

Impact

This bill aims to ease the financial burden on districts that serve homeless students by restructuring the way educational funding is distributed. Previously, the responsibility of the child's education remained with the district of residence even when the child attended school elsewhere due to homelessness. By shifting these responsibilities to the district of attendance, the bill seeks to create a more equitable and responsive educational framework for transient populations. Such a change could also foster better integration of homeless students into their new educational environments, as districts will have clearer funding pathways to support these students.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3321 modifies the educational funding responsibilities for homeless students in New Jersey. The bill amends existing laws that determine the financial obligations of the school district in which a homeless child resides during a school year. Under current regulations, the district of residence—the school district where the child's parent or guardian resided before becoming homeless—bears the financial responsibility for the child's education. A3321 proposes that once a homeless child attends school in a different district, that attending district will assume responsibility for educational costs beyond the current school year, thus making the district of attendance the 'district of residence' moving forward.

Contention

Despite its aims, there may be concerns regarding the implications of this bill on smaller or underfunded school districts that may find themselves facing unexpected financial strain due to an influx of homeless students. Some legislators and stakeholders may argue that this shift could lead to discrepancies in funding adequacy between districts, particularly in areas that already struggle with budget constraints. The discussions around A3321 are likely to address whether it effectively balances the needs of homeless students with the fiscal realities of the districts that serve them.