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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey establishes matching grant program for school districts to implement high-impact tutoring
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education CommitteeSponsor: Gerry Scharfenberger
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What This Bill Would Do
New Jersey creates a competitive matching grant program within the Department of Education to help school districts fund programs aimed at addressing student learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. Participating districts must provide equal to 25 percent of their grant award and satisfy specific program design requirements.
School districts seeking state financial assistance for pandemic recovery tutoring must commit local and structure their instructional programs around mandated group size, frequency, and scheduling rules.
- The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided substantial federal funding to states and school districts to mitigate the educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. context
- Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger represents New Jersey's 13th Legislative District in Monmouth County. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
school districts
School districts may apply for grant funding but must submit detailed program plans, commit 25 percent matching funds, and comply with instructional structure requirements.
students
Students identified for participation receive supplemental tutoring in small groups during the school day.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for the high-impact tutoring grants?
What financial contribution is required from school districts that receive a grant?
When must tutoring sessions take place under this program?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Use of Federal Pandemic Relief Funds
The bill explicitly ties state grant funding to available federal monies under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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