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Legislation S-1607, a bill in the New Jersey State Senate that will increase funding for the state's private schools via corporate scholarships, has not budged since April 2008, but the gubernatorial Nov. 3 elections have brought renewed hope to Josh Pruzansky that the bill may finally be passed.

Pruzansky, executive director of Agudath Israel of New Jersey and one of the state's loudest voices in support of school choice and non-public school funding, explained in a phone interview with The Jewish State Nov. 16 that the bill falls into line with Gov.-elect Chris Christie's plans to eventually have school vouchers, which will give children who wish to enter the private school system the financial aid to do so.

"Christie is looking at a close to $10 billion deficit," Pruzansky said. "To start asking for vouchers in the very beginning would be a hard push, but the passage of S-1607 and Christie's vouchers will give every child the option to send their kid somewhere."

S-1607, called the "Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act," would give New Jersey corporations the option to donate part of their taxes to a scholarship fund, which would in turn be distributed to children in a financially depressed New Jersey municipality whose parents are having trouble paying the tuition of any private school, religious or secular. The program has been successfully implemented in several states.

"[Corporations] would not lose any money to give to the scholarship fund the way the bill is constructed," Pruzansky said. "I would think that many corporations would want to participate in this program."

The Orthodox Union praised Christie's support for the tax credit, and last year told The Jewish State "we say unashamedly that nothing is as crucial to families that move in -- or out -- of any community as the educational opportunities afforded their children." N.J.-based Parents for Free Choice in Education has also urged the Jewish community to support the bill.

There are currently 119 Jewish day schools and yeshivas in New Jersey, with around 28,000 students enrolled. Pruzansky said that the cost of funding those schools is approximately $240 million, but families that send their children to private schools pay around $400 million of the property taxes, and very little of the investment is returned: the tax rebate per child in private school is $132.

"We're talking about families who live in the highest property tax state in the country," Pruzansky said. "Sixty percent of taxes go to public school education... It used to be good, people were getting paid and they were able to manage. And now that the economy is what it is, the schools that rely solely on tuition payments and fundraising from parent bodies are starting to feel the pinch."

The Urban Enterprise Zone Jobs Scholarship Act would start a five-year pilot program, which will distribute the scholarships in eight towns, including Lakewood and Elizabeth, which both have large Jewish populations. Out of the $24 million that the bill calls for from corporation's tax payments, around $1.5 million will assist children in Jewish schools.

"We're talking about community that's spending $400 million a year on education. Why aren't we receiving a return?" Pruzansky said. "Obviously, it's not adequate."

Pruzansky explained that every county would have its own "account" within the state-run scholarship fund, and the county would be responsible for distributing the funds appropriately. Approximately $6,000 is proposed for each elementary school child, and around $9,000 is proposed for each high school child. Eligible families would need to be two-and-a-half times above the poverty level in order to receive the aid.

In Lakewood alone, the community in New Jersey that Pruzansky says will benefit most from S-1607, there are 60 schools with 16,000 K-12 students enrolled in them.

"[Property taxes] leave people stretching [their budget] with so many families in the moderate and low income bracket," Pruzansky said. "It's hard for them to survive financially."

Pruzansky explained that the way the bill is set up, 75 percent of the scholarships will go to students currently in public school who wish to attend private school, and 25 percent will go to assisting those who are having trouble paying for their current private school. In Lakewood, where the overwhelming majority of the children are enrolled in private schools, the funds may be redistributed by the Lakewood municipal board to those in private school.

"Almost $500,000 would go to Lakewood in year one, and it doubles every year," Pruzansky said. "The original students can use the funds for all five years, and you add on new students every year."

In the meantime, Pruzansky has successfully sought after finances from the No Child Left Behind Act and the stimulus package.

"Lakewood gets a significant amount under Title 1 (an alternate name for No Child Left Behind)," Pruzansky said. "That money is specifically for tutors to help get them up to par in their subjects. Title 1 in New Jersey is offered by school districts... and under the stimulus package, Lakewood gets above and beyond the 'x' amount allotted by No Child Left Behind."

For those who say that public funds for private schools are a church and state issue, Pruzansky clearly defines that the funds being sought are only for secular, state-mandated subjects.

"If the money went to yeshiva to study Talmud, then they are correct," Pruzansky said. "The school is providing an education by law and by constitution; the children are required to get an education. The funding can only be used for that part. The school is a dual curriculum; we don't want to fund the religious part of the curriculum, just the general studies program. The study of language, history, [and] science is all required and our children are required to be taught those subjects. We should be receiving funding for that service."

Despite S-1607's sluggish move through the Senate, Pruzansky remains hopeful that the bill will pass in early 2010 and will start New Jersey on the path to school vouchers -- what he considers the most valuable form of aid.

"A permanent solution would be found through vouchers," Pruzansky said. "That's the best situation for our community -- everyone regardless of income would go to the school of their choice from Englewood to Lakewood and in between. However, it's not possible right now.... It's only a specific amount of funding, but if you need to start somewhere, this is where we start. It's a great first step."