Wasser Watch

BECK TESTIFIES AT SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON “DIPLOMA MILL” BILL

Senator Jennifer Beck testified today in front of the Senate Education Committee urging them to pass S-2127, a bill designed to prevent public school employees from receiving raises based on advanced degrees from unaccredited institutions, and also to prevent tuition reimbursement for such degrees.

The bill passed out of committee by a 4-0 vote. The companion bill in the Assembly will be co-sponsored by Beck’s 12th District colleagues, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande.

The legislation was the result of recent revelations that the superintendent of the Freehold Regional School District, James Wasser, and two assistant superintendents received doctorate degrees from Breyer State University in Alabama, an institution which is not accredited by one of the eight regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The three school officials received raises based on the degrees and tuition totaling $8,700 was paid for the three degrees.

“It’s an outrage that we actually have to mandate that advanced degrees obtained by school officials are from accredited institutions,” said Beck. “Fortunately we seem to be on or way to ensuring that this does not happen again in another school district.”

Beck, who is a co-sponsor of the legislation, said her motivation for sponsoring the legislation was a loophole in the law which she discovered when the controversy first came to light.

“When my staff and I researched this issue and the legality of all of it, we quickly came to a shocking realization-while it is against the law in New Jersey to use the title “Doctor” or any letters after your name which indicate you have received an advanced degree if you have received that title from an unaccredited institution, the law is silent on the issue of tuition reimbursement or the granting of additional compensation based on such a degree.”

“So basically, you can’t call yourself a Doctor, but you can be paid like one.”

Beck closed by saying “School employees should be role models for our children in the pursuit of academic excellence. Unfortunately a loophole in our laws enabled some to take a taxpayer paid shortcut to an advanced degree and the monetary rewards that come along with it. By passing S-2127 out of committee we are one step closer to closing that loophole. I thank the Education Committee for their support and look forward to a vote of the full Senate on the bill.