A 4678 — Clarifies payments for non-resident students enrolled in renaissance school projects.

A4678 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

SPEARMAN District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)  Senator   NILSA  I.   SYNOPSIS      Clarifies payments for non-resident students enrolled in renaissance school projects.

CRUZ-PEREZ District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)   CURRENT  VERSION  OF  TEXTSYNOPSIS      AsClarifies introduced.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.

            1.1.  Section 7 of P.L.2011, c.176 (C.18A:36C-7) is amended to read as follows:

 Section      77.  ofa.  P.L.2011,Notwithstanding c.176that (C.18A:36C-7)a isrenaissance amendedschool toproject readshall asbe follows:constructed, controlled, operated, and managed by a nonprofit entity, and not the local board of education, it shall be a public school.

     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.

          b.   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.    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.   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;

          e.    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 1pursuant 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.    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.   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.   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.

P.L.2014, c.61, s.3)             2.2.  Section 8 of P.L.2011, c.176 (C.18A:36C-8) is amended to read as follows:

 Section      88.  a.  (1)  In the case of P.L.2011,a c.176renaissance (C.18A:36C-8)school isproject amendedbuilt toon readland 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 follows: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.

          8.(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;

 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;

          b.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.

 (1)       In(2) theA 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,district preference for enrollment in the renaissance school project shall beallow givenany tostudent students who residewas inenrolled the attendance area identified in the application submitted by the nonprofit entity and approved by the commissioner for the renaissance school project. project In no case may an attendance area include an area outside of the renaissance school district.  If spaces remain available in the renaissanceimmediately schoolpreceding project, then the renaissance school projectyear mayto selectenroll students for the remaining spaces through a lottery system.  The first lottery shall include students who reside in the renaissance school districtproject but outside the attendance area identified in the applicationappropriate approvedgrade byunless the commissionerappropriate forgrade theis renaissancenot schooloffered. project.  If space remains available, a second lottery shall be conducted that may include students who reside outside of the renaissance school district.

          (2)  In Adeveloping renaissanceand schoolexecuting projectits whichselection isprocess, notthe builtnonprofit onentity landshall ownednot bydiscriminate on the Newbasis Jerseyof Schoolsintellectual Developmentor Authorityathletic orability, themeasures renaissanceof schoolachievement districtor shallaptitude, allowstatus anyas studenta whoperson waswith enrolleda disability, proficiency in the renaissanceEnglish schoollanguage, projector inany theother immediatelybasis precedingthat schoolwould yearbe toillegal enrollif inused theby renaissancea school projectdistrict.  inA thenonprofit appropriateentity grademay, unlesshowever, thelimit appropriateadmission to a particular grade islevel notor offered.levels consistent with its organizational document.

          Inc. 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.

    A c.school district other than the renaissance school district shall be required to provide funding to the renaissance school project for any students 1who reside in the district and are1 enrolled at the renaissance school project 1[that reside in the district] pursuant to this section1 in an amount calculated pursuant to 1paragraph (2) of1 subsection e.

A school district other than the renaissance school district shall be required to provide funding to the renaissance school project for any students enrolled at the renaissance school project that reside in the district in an amount calculated pursuant to subsection e.

          1d.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.

          1e.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.

    STATEMENT        This bill clarifies the provision of payments for non-resident students that enroll at a renaissance school project.

     Under current law, the school district in which a renaissance school project is located is required to pay to the nonprofit entity partnering with the renaissance school project a per pupil amount.

 However, current law does not specify whether the amount is to be paid for all students enrolled in the renaissance school project or only students resident in the district.

     The bill clarifies that the school district in which a renaissance school project is located is required to pay the per pupil amount for each student that resides in the district.

For all students enrolled in the renaissance school project that do not reside in the district in which the renaissance school project is located, the student’s school district of residence would be required to pay the per pupil amount to the nonprofit entity.

     The bill also provides that the Department of Education would include renaissance school projects in the Charter School Enrollment System for the purpose of calculating and reconciling payments between school districts and renaissance school projects.

     Finally, the bill directs the department to employ any existing rules and procedures for settling residency and payment disputes for charter schools in the settlement of such disputes for renaissance school projects.