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A4678 1R
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 4678
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman� WILLIAM W. SPEARMAN
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Senator� NILSA I. CRUZ-PEREZ
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
���� Clarifies payments for non-resident students enrolled
in renaissance school projects.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As reported by the Assembly Appropriations Committee
on March 19, 2026, with amendments.
��
An Act
concerning payments to renaissance school projects and
amending P.L.2011, c.176.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
����� 1.�
Section 7 of P.L.2011, c.176 (C.18A:36C-7) is amended to read as follows:
����� 7.�
a.� Notwithstanding that a renaissance school project shall be constructed,
controlled, operated, and managed by a nonprofit entity, and not the local
board of education, it shall be a public school. However nothing contained
herein shall restrict a for-profit entity from constructing a renaissance
school project, or a renaissance school project from being located on land
owned by a for-profit entity. Further, the renaissance school project shall be
authorized to retain any business entity, however formed, whose primary purpose
is the staffing, operation, and management of elementary schools, middle
schools, or high schools in the United States, except as it relates to
instructional services.
����� b.�� The
costs of a renaissance school project including, but not limited to, the costs
of land acquisition, site remediation, site development, design, construction,
and any other costs required to place into service the school facility or
facilities constituting the renaissance school project shall be at the sole
expense of the nonprofit entity.� The nonprofit entity may use State funds to
pay for a lease, debt service, or mortgage for any facility constructed or
otherwise acquired.
����� c.�� Notwithstanding
the provisions of the "Educational Facilities Construction and Financing
Act," P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.), or any other law or regulation
to the contrary, there shall be no State share for the costs of a renaissance
school project.
����� d.�� Notwithstanding
the provisions of the "Public School Contracts Law," N.J.S.18A:18A-1
et seq., or any other law or regulation to the contrary, the nonprofit entity
or any entity acting in cooperation with a renaissance school project shall not
be subject to public bidding for goods and services, and any contracts entered
into by the nonprofit entity shall not be deemed public contracts or public
works; except that any contract entered into by the nonprofit entity or any
entity acting in cooperation with a renaissance school project shall be deemed
a public work for the purposes of the "New Jersey Prevailing Wage
Act," P.L.1963, c.150 (C.34:11-56.25 et seq.), and subject to the
applicable provisions of that act.
����� e.��
(1)
The renaissance school district in which a renaissance school project is
located shall pay to the nonprofit entity in 12 equal monthly installments an
amount per pupil equal to
[
95%
]
95 percent
of the district's per pupil
expenditure
for each student who is enrolled in the renaissance school
project and resides in the renaissance school district
.� In addition the 12
monthly installments shall include the security categorical aid attributable to
the student, a percentage of the district's special education categorical aid
equal to the percentage of the district's special education students enrolled
in the renaissance school project, and if applicable
[
100%
]
100
percent
of preschool education aid.� The district shall also pay directly
to the renaissance school project any federal funds attributable to the
student.
�����
(2)�
For each student enrolled in the renaissance school project
1
pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2011, c.176
(C.18A:36C-8)
1
who does not reside in the
renaissance school district, the student�s school district of residence shall
pay to the nonprofit entity in 12 equal monthly installments an amount per
pupil equal to 95 percent of the district's per pupil expenditure.� In addition
the 12 monthly installments shall include the security categorical aid
attributable to the student, a percentage of the district's special education
categorical aid equal to the percentage of the district's special education
students enrolled in the renaissance school project, and if applicable 100
percent of preschool education aid.� The district shall also pay directly to
the renaissance school project any federal funds attributable to the student.
����� f.��� Renaissance
school projects shall be required to meet the same testing and academic
performance standards established by law and regulation for public school
students, and shall meet any additional testing and academic performance
standards established by the nonprofit entity and approved by the commissioner.
����� g.�� The
nonprofit entity shall have complete discretion in naming the renaissance
school project.� The nonprofit entity may not realize a net profit from its
operation of a renaissance school project.� A private or parochial school shall
not be eligible for renaissance school project status.
����� h.�� A
nonprofit entity shall operate a renaissance school project in accordance with
the contract entered into pursuant to section 6 of this act, the provisions of
this act, and the laws and regulations that govern charter schools which are
not inconsistent with this act.
(cf:
P.L.2014, c.61, s.3)
����� 2.�
Section 8 of P.L.2011, c.176 (C.18A:36C-8) is amended to read as follows:
����� 8.�
a.� (1)� In the case of a renaissance school project built on land owned by the
New Jersey Schools Development Authority or the renaissance school district,
students residing in the attendance area established by the renaissance school
district for that property shall be automatically enrolled in the renaissance
school project, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this
subsection.� The parent or guardian of the student may determine not to enroll
the student in the renaissance school project, and in that case the student
shall be eligible for enrollment in another school in the renaissance school
district.� If spaces remain available in the renaissance school project,
students shall be selected for the remaining spaces through a lottery system.�
The first lottery shall include students who reside in the renaissance school
district but outside the attendance area of the renaissance school.� If space
remains available, a second lottery shall be conducted that may include
students who reside outside of the renaissance school district.
����� (2) A
renaissance school project built on land owned by the New Jersey Schools
Development Authority or the renaissance school district, shall allow any
student who was enrolled in the renaissance school project in the immediately
preceding school year to enroll in the renaissance school project in the
appropriate grade unless the appropriate grade is not offered; and if a grade
is at capacity, a student enrolled in the immediately preceding school year
shall have priority for enrollment in that grade over a student who would
otherwise be eligible for initial enrollment in the renaissance school project
automatically based on the fact that he resides in the attendance area
established by the renaissance school project for that property.
����� b.�
(1)� In the case of a renaissance school project which is not built on land
owned by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority or the renaissance school
district, preference for enrollment in the renaissance school project shall be
given to students who reside in the attendance area identified in the
application submitted by the nonprofit entity and approved by the commissioner
for the renaissance school project.� In no case may an attendance area include
an area outside of the renaissance school district.� If spaces remain available
in the renaissance school project, then the renaissance school project may
select students for the remaining spaces through a lottery system.� The first
lottery shall include students who reside in the renaissance school district
but outside the attendance area identified in the application approved by the
commissioner for the renaissance school project.� If space remains available, a
second lottery shall be conducted that may include students who reside outside
of the renaissance school district.
����� (2) A
renaissance school project which is not built on land owned by the New Jersey
Schools Development Authority or the renaissance school district shall allow
any student who was enrolled in the renaissance school project in the
immediately preceding school year to enroll in the renaissance school project
in the appropriate grade unless the appropriate grade is not offered.
����� In
developing and executing its selection process, the nonprofit entity shall not
discriminate on the basis of intellectual or athletic ability, measures of
achievement or aptitude, status as a person with a disability, proficiency in
the English language, or any other basis that would be illegal if used by a
school district.� A nonprofit entity may, however, limit admission to a
particular grade level or levels consistent with its organizational document.
�����
c.
A school district other than the renaissance school district shall be required
to provide funding to the renaissance school project for any students
1
who reside in the district and are
1
enrolled at the renaissance school project
1
[
that reside in the district
]
pursuant to this section
1
in an amount calculated pursuant to
1
paragraph (2) of
1
subsection e. of section 7 of P.L.2011, c.176
(C.18A:36C-7).
�����
1
d.
1
�
The Department of Education shall include
renaissance school projects in the Charter School Enrollment System for the
purpose of calculating and reconciling payments to be made by school districts
to renaissance school projects.
�����
1
e.
1
�
In the event of a dispute over a student�s
residency status or payments for any student enrolled at the renaissance school
project, the Department of Education shall follow any existing rules and
procedures used to resolve disputes of the same nature for charter schools.
(cf:
P.L.2017, c.131, s.29)
���� 3. �This act shall take effect
immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the
date of enactment.