SMITH/CONNERS/CRUZ-PEREZ/QUIGLEY/TUCKER BILL TO HELP CHILDREN OF MILITARY FAMILIES CLEARS SENATE PANEL

SMITH/CONNERS/CRUZ-PEREZ/QUIGLEY/TUCKER BILL TO HELP CHILDREN OF MILITARY FAMILIES CLEARS SENATE PANEL

NJ Would Adopt ‘Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children’

(TRENTON) – Assembly-approved legislation Assembly members L. Harvey Smith, Jack Conners, Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Joan Quigley and Cleopatra Tucker are sponsoring to help children of military families who frequently move has cleared a Senate committee.

The bill (A-2640) would permit New Jersey to enter into the “Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children,” which aims to eradicate disadvantages often encountered by military children because of frequent interstate moves and deployments.

The bill passed the Assembly 76-1 in December and was released Monday by the Senate Education Committee and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“The armed forces have made great strides in ensuring smooth transitions for our military personnel but there is work yet to be done, especially when it comes to the children of our military families,” said Smith (D-Hudson). “We must do everything we can at the state and local levels to ensure that these children are neither penalized nor delayed in achieving their educational goals.”

“This bill would facilitate the timely enrollment of children of military families in a new school and development of a placement process that does not disadvantage the child and their ability to graduate high school on time,” said Conners (D-Burlington/Camden). “It’s the right thing to do for the children of families dedicated to serving our country.”

“Students from military families often transfer more than twice during high school, and many military children will be in nine different schools before they graduate high school,” said Cruz-Perez (D-Camden). “Constantly moving can be stressful, and it’s never easy being the new kid in class, so this would help ease that transition.”

“This is a cost-effective way of helping military children achieve their best,” said Quigley (D-Hudson). “We owe so much to our military families, and helping ensure their children are ready and able to succeed in school is the least we can do.”

“Too often the children of military families get swept up in frequent moves and end up struggling to adjust and attain that always important education,” said Tucker (D-Essex). “We can do more to help, and this is a step in the right direction toward ensuring these children are positioned to succeed.”

The compact is being developed by the Council on State Governments in cooperation with the United State Department of Defense. The Compact takes effect once it has been enacted in 10 or more states.

To date, 11 states have adopted the language of the Compact. As such, the Compact would be binding on New Jersey immediately upon the bill’s enactment.

Upon becoming a member of the interstate compact, each state would create a State Council, or use an existing body or board, to coordinate the state’s participation. The State Council or board is also required to have a military family education liaison to assist military families and the state in implementing the interstate compact.

The compact would cover children of active duty members of the uniformed services, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty status. It would also cover members or veterans of the uniformed services who are severely injured and medically discharged or retired for one year after medical discharge or retirement. Also included would be members of the uniformed services who die on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained on active duty for a period of one year after death.

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