18A:46-19.8 Estimated cost of services; inclusion in budget; State aid.

14. a. On November 5 of each year, each board of education shall report the number of nonpublic school children who attended a nonpublic school located within the district who were identified as eligible to receive examination, classification, and speech correction services pursuant to this act during the previous school year. The number of these pupils requiring an initial evaluation or reevaluation for examination and classification shall be multiplied by $990.73. The number of these pupils requiring an annual review for examination and classification shall be multiplied by $297.06. The number requiring speech correction shall be multiplied by $786.70. These products shall be added to determine the estimated cost for providing examination, classification, and speech corrections services to nonpublic school children during the next school year. Each board of education shall report the number of nonpublic school children who attended a nonpublic school located within the district, who were identified as eligible for supplementary instruction services during the preceding school year. The number of these pupils shall be multiplied by $752.41. This product shall be added to the estimated cost for providing examination, classification and speech correction services.

In preparing its annual budget, each board of education shall include as an expenditure the estimated cost of providing services to nonpublic school children pursuant to P.L.1977, c.193 (C.18A:46-19.1 et al.).

In preparing its annual budget, each board of education shall include as a revenue State aid in an amount equal to the estimated cost of providing services to nonpublic school children pursuant to P.L.1977, c.193 (C.18A:46-19.1 et al.).

During each school year, each district shall receive an amount of State aid equal to 10% of the estimated cost on the first day in September and on the first day of each month during the remainder of the school year. If a board of education requires funds prior to September, the board shall file a written request with the Commissioner of Education stating the need for the funds. The commissioner shall review each request and forward those for which need has been demonstrated to the appropriate officials for payment. In the event the expenditures incurred by any district are less than the amount of State aid received, the district shall refund the unexpended State aid after completion of the school year. The refunds shall be paid no later than December 1. In any year, a district may submit a request for additional aid pursuant to P.L.1977, c.193 (C.18A:46-19.1 et al.). If the request is approved and funds are available from refunds of the prior year, payment shall be made in the current school year.

b. For the purposes of the report provided pursuant to subsection a. of this section, a board of education shall include a pupil enrolled in a nonpublic school located within the district who does not reside in the State in the number of pupils requiring an initial evaluation or reevaluation for examination and classification or requiring an annual review for examination and classification.

Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.18A:46-6, N.J.S.18A:46-8, or any other section of law to the contrary, a school district may use State aid received pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1977, c.193 (C.18A:46-19.1 et al.) for the initial evaluation or reevaluation for examination and classification or annual review for examination and classification of a nonpublic school pupil who is not a resident of the State.

L.1977, c.193, s.14; amended 1984, c.120, s.2; 1991, c.128, s.5; 1996, c.138, s.75; 2010, c.71.