School Choice

There is a bill working its way through the legislature that would increase school choice for families in some New Jersey urban areas that has a very diverse group of supporters.

S1607 "Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act"; establishes a pilot program in Department of the Treasury to provide tax credits for contributions to entities which provide tuition scholarships to children in certain urban enterprise zone municipalities.

The towns that would benefit from the bill are Camden, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Lakewood, Newark, Orange, Paterson and Trenton.

The bill is on the schedule of the Senate Budget and Appropriations committee next week. This week 50 Camden residents and students rallied for it and presented a petition with 7,000 signatures supporting the bill to Senator Dana Redd, (D-Camden ). Zebulon Pike likes the bill too.

I didn't like the bill, until today.

I haven't liked that it only creates school choice in urban areas. From what I've read, the program will "cost" $360 million in tax credits, but only save $17 million in Abbott spending. Without a constitutional amendment overturning Abbott, I don't believe that spending will ever be reduced, even if all the schools are empty because the kids went to private schools.

I also don't like that the tax credits the bill creates are for corporations only. Why not individuals or partnerships?

And why isn't Asbury Park on the list? Tommy, do you have anything to say about this? Sean, Mary Pat, Dave...what gives?

I've had a change of heart. I'm all for the bill.

I like the bill because of its potential unintended consequences. This bill could create white flight back into the urban areas. It could reverse our state mandated racial segregation and solve the affordable housing problem by reducing suburban home values.

This bill could be great for the urban families it is targeting. It could also be terrific for lower middle class families who are struggling economically and who's kids are getting a mediocre education.

You can buy a 3 bedroom 1 bath house in Camden for $45,000. For $68,000 you could buy a 4 bedroom in Trenton.

$122,000 gets you a 3 bedroom 1.5 bath in Lakewood. For $95K you could buy a 3 bedroom in Elizabeth.

Cheap housing and private schools! Why wouldn't lower middle class families from Cliffwood, North Middletown or Garwood move into these cities. It would even be tempting for families in Bergenfield and Atco.

Let's do it.