Bill > A161

This bill, the "Opportunity Scholarship Act," establishes a five-year pilot program within the Department of the Treasury to provide tax credits to taxpayers who contribute to scholarships for low-income children attending eligible schools. A "chronically failing school" is defined as a public school (excluding charter schools) in specific "targeted districts" (Asbury Park, Camden, Elizabeth, Lakewood, Newark, Orange, Passaic, and Perth Amboy) where a significant percentage of students score below proficient in state assessments. A "low-income child" is from a household earning no more than 2.5 times the federal poverty threshold. The program aims to offer educational choices to children in failing schools by allowing taxpayers to receive a tax credit for donations to a designated "scholarship organization," which then distributes these funds as scholarships. The program also includes provisions for transportation for students attending nonpublic schools or public schools outside their district, and outlines requirements for nonpublic schools to be considered "eligible schools." The bill mandates an evaluation of the program's impact and includes reporting requirements for the scholarship organization and the Department of Education.