A 4678 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

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

This bill clarifies how payments are made for non-resident students enrolled in New Jersey's Renaissance School projects, which are publicly funded schools operated by nonprofit entities. It requires the home school district of each non-resident student to pay 95% of the district's per-pupil expenditure to the nonprofit entity running the school, along with specific categorical aid and federal funds. The legislation also maintains that Renaissance schools must meet standard public school testing requirements and prohibits for-profit entities from operating them, while allowing the nonprofit operator to retain certain business entities for staffing and management purposes.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

General Assembly Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Mar 10, 2026 Signed Jul 8, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 4 edits

MODERATE

This First Reprint of A4678, reported out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee on March 19, 2026, makes targeted clarifications to the funding and enrollment provisions for Renaissance School Projects. The key substantive change narrows the obligation of non-resident school districts to pay per-pupil amounts only for students enrolled 'pursuant to this section' (Section 8), and adds a cross-reference tying that payment specifically to paragraph (2) of subsection e. The Department of Education's role in enrollment tracking and dispute resolution is now formally designated as new subsections d and e rather than unnumbered paragraphs.

Scope change

The bill's scope is narrowed slightly: non-resident district funding obligations now apply only to students enrolled through the specific enrollment mechanisms described in Section 8 (automatic enrollment by attendance area or lottery), rather than potentially any student who happens to be enrolled at a Renaissance School Project.

FISCAL

Section 8(c) now limits the non-resident district payment obligation to students who 'reside in the district and are enrolled at the renaissance school project pursuant to this section,' rather than any student enrolled there. The cross-reference was also narrowed from 'subsection e' generally to 'paragraph (2) of subsection e' specifically.

Section 7(e)(2) now includes a cross-reference stating that the non-resident per-pupil payment applies to students enrolled 'pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2011, c.176 (C.18A:36C-8),' explicitly linking the funding trigger to the enrollment mechanisms in Section 8.

TECHNICAL

The Department of Education provisions regarding inclusion in the Charter School Enrollment System and use of existing charter school dispute resolution procedures are now formally designated as subsections d and e of Section 8, rather than appearing as unnumbered trailing paragraphs.

SCOPE

A new co-sponsor (Senator Nilsa I. Cruz-Perez, District 5 - Camden and Gloucester) was added, reflecting the bill's relevance to districts in that area where Renaissance School Projects operate.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (40-0)

upper

May 4, 2026

Committee

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed by the Assembly (72-0-0)

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Recommitted to Assembly Appropriations Committee

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Committee

Transferred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors