(Courtesy of Teach NJ) Teach NJ, a project of the Orthodox Union (“OU”), issued a statement applauding the New Jersey State Assembly for passing, with overwhelming majorities, a bill to establish a technology grant program as well as a bill that provides $20 million to assist schools in covering facility sanitization costs made necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic.

All schools, including nonpublic schools, are eligible for assistance from these programs, which were part of a package of 32 bills the Assembly has passed in response to the new coronavirus pandemic. The Assembly’s actions constitute major wins for nonpublic schools on whose behalf Teach NJ has been aggressively advocating for assistance in managing the crisis.

The Bridging the Digital Divide Grant program will reimburse schools for the purchase of technology and technological equipment including laptops, tablets and hot-spot access devices for students who do not have the means to purchase these items, enabling remote learning for more students in the state. The New Jersey Department of Education will allocate the sanitization resources in proportion to the number of students enrolled at each school. In addition to purchasing necessary supplies, schools can use the funds to cover additional personnel costs associated with the cleaning schedule. The bills now await passage in the Senate and Governor Murphy’s signature.

Teach NJ’s executive director, Katie Schlussel Katz, said: “We are pleased that Trenton has acted swiftly to ensure schools have the resources they need in order to manage an extreme and unplanned-for public health crisis and that nonpublic schools will have access to these critical resources,” adding, “Families throughout New Jersey are taking unprecedented steps to ensure their own health as well as that of their loved ones and fellow community members. It is important for communities to have peace of mind that their children can continue learning during this period and that facilities will be safe for all students, faculty and staff once schools re-open.”