Time is running out to get the Opportunity Scholarship Act, S-1872 & A-2810, passed before the summer recess.

This Bill, if passed by the Legislature and signed into Law by the Governor, will provide Corporate Tax Scholarships for qualifying families who reside in Districts with Failing Public Schools. The law was designed to split the scholarships into two categories, 75% will be earmarked for current Public School Students attending a Failing Public School, and 25% for students who live in a Failing School District but are currently enrolled in a Non-Public School. The reason why Non Public School students are eligible is because their parents should not be penalized for already making the financial sacrifice to send their child to a Non Public School.

Three communities with significant Orthodox Jewish populations will be eligible for these Scholarships – Lakewood, Passaic and Elizabeth. This Bill might not be the ultimate solution to our tuition issues but it is a great first step. In the words of Rev. Reginald Jackson of the Black Minister’s Council at a Press Conference yesterday – we can’t take the second step without taking the first one. This is a crucial first step for our community and all of us, regardless of where we live and if we would be eligible, should do our share to help pass this Bill.

Please call your State officials and ask them to Sponsor the Bill.

State-wide:  (And Clifton- She is your Assemblywoman) Call Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver at 973-395-1166 ([email protected]) and ask her to post the Bill in the Assembly Appropriations Committee today. We don’t want to wait until the Fall to have this issue raised. We need it now.

Call Senator Paul Sarlo at 201-804-8118 ( [email protected] ) and ask him to post the Bill in the Senate Budget Committee of which he is the Chairman, for tomorrow’s Hearing.

In Lakewood: Call Assemblyman Joseph Malone at 609-298-6250 ([email protected])  and Assemblyman Ronald Dancer at 732-901-0702 ([email protected] ) and ask them to Sponsor the Bill. Senator Lesniak said yesterday that any town that doesn’t have their Legislators on the Bill won’t be eligible. It is crucial that they sign up as Sponsors today or tomorrow.  Please call Senator Robert Singer at 732-901-0702 ([email protected] ) and thank him for sponsoring the Bill.

In Passaic: Call Senator Paul Sarlo and ask him (in addition to the request listed above for State-Wide callers) to become a Sponsor of the Bill. Please call Assemblyman Frederick Scalera at 973-667-4431 ( [email protected]) and ask him to become a Sponsor of the Bill. Please call Assemblyman Gary Schaer at 973-249-3665 ([email protected])  and thank him for sponsoring the Bill.

In Elizabeth: Call Assemblyman Joseph Cryan at 908-624-0880 ([email protected])  and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano ([email protected]) at 908-624-0880 and ask them to sponsor the Bill. Please call Senator Ray Lesniak at 908-624-0880 and thank him for all of his hard work in creating and Sponsoring this Bill.

The NJEA (the Teacher’s Union) is the major opponent to the Bill and they are mobilizing their members to flood the offices above with phone calls today. We must do the same.

Thank you.

Josh Pruzansky, Agudath Israel Of New Jersey.

(YWN Desk – NYC)