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New Jersey Nonpublic School Technology Initiative Program

Printable Version (54 kb PDF)

Lucille E. Davy
Commissioner of Education

Katherine P. Attwood
Assistant Commissioner
Division of Finance

John M. Lally
John W. Longworth
Judith A. Miller
Yut’se O. Thomas
Department of Education Staff

New Jersey Department of Education
Division of Finance
100 River View Plaza
P. O. Box 500
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0500

August 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART

1. THE NEW JERSEY NONPUBLIC SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE PROGRAM
   
   
2. STATE AID
   
   
3. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
   
   
4. INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS
   
   
5. PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT
   
   
6. OWNERSHIP AND STORAGE OF EQUIPMENT
   
   
7. FEES AND CHARGES
   
   
8. ACCOUNTING AT LOCAL DISTRICT LEVEL
   
   
9. PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT/NONPUBLIC TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE
   
   
10. FISCAL AUDIT AND RETENTION OF RECORDS

1. THE NEW JERSEY NONPUBLIC SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE PROGRAM

1. Been enrolled as of the last school day prior to October 16 of the previous school year as recorded on the Nonpublic School Enrollment Report.
   
   
2. Been enrolled in an educational program that met at least 180 days a year with a certified teacher.
   
   
3. Been at least four (4) years of age.

A child who boards at a school but whose parents do not maintain a residence in the State shall not be deemed a resident of the State for the purposes of this program.

"Technology" means using the tools of educational technology (computers, software, videodisks and tapes, CD-ROM, DVD, etc.) to extend and enhance the instructional process for nonpublic school students.  Allowable nonpublic school technology initiative program expenditures include the following:

1. Equipment (hardware):

Computers: multimedia, server computers for shared files, electronic mail and world wide web communication;

Digital and video cameras;

Graphing calculators;

Projection devices and other peripheral equipment shared by computer systems;

Data communications systems: local area networks (including multiple connects for every classroom);

Wide area network: high-speed network links that connect schools together, high-speed Internet connection serving more than one school;

Satellite dish;

Distance learning ITV classroom (full-motion interactive video classroom system);

Transportable ITV system (full-motion interactive video classroom on a cart); and

Videoconferencing equipment (e.g., PictureTel, Proshare, Swift Site).

2. Software: programs available on disks, CD-ROMs, etc. used as applications in instructional programs.  Software with a religious theme or content is prohibited.
   
   
3. Professional Development: training that develops and enhances teachers’ technology skills for instructional purposes so that teachers effectively use technology with their curriculum [(for example, participating in sessions offered by the county-based Educational Technology Training Centers)].  Note:  The Department of Education has established an Educational Technology Training Center in each county specifically for the purpose of providing professional staff development opportunities for teachers from all grades.  The ETTCs are located in facilities that are dedicated to serving teacher training needs on a full-time year-round basis.  The ETTCs offer a key resource in each county for educational technology training services. Professional development training may also be provided to nonpublic school teachers on-site in a nonpublic school.

It is recommended that, for every dollar spent on equipment, at least thirty cents be spent on professional development.

4. Maintenance: contracts or per diem support to make sure equipment purchased and loaned to a nonpublic school by a board of education is maintained and remains usable.

Lists of allowable and non-allowable expenditures are posted to the department’s web site at http://www.nj.gov/education/techno/npallowable.htm and updated as needed.

2. STATE AID

1. The State aid provided to the public school district for each participating nonpublic school in the district will be an amount equal to the product of the rate per pupil authorized in the language of the Appropriations Act and the number of pupils on roll in the nonpublic school as of the last school day prior to October 16 of the previous school year as recorded on the Nonpublic School Enrollment Report.
   
   
2. Actual expenditures applied against the state aid received for technology may include only expenditures related to providing those items defined as technology on pages four and five of these guidelines.  State aid funds may not be expended for items relating to the construction of nonpublic school facilities or for items that cannot be removed from a nonpublic school without remodeling the school.
   
   
3. State aid will be paid in full to school districts no later than August 7.
   
   
4. Unexpended state aid funds must be returned to the department after the close of the school year.

3. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

The board of education in each public school district in New Jersey having nonpublic schools within its boundaries is responsible for providing technology to the nonpublic schools within the limits of the funds provided by this program.  Such technology may be provided directly by the board of education or by an employee of the school district in the case of professional development, by contracts with an educational service commission, educational technology training center (ETTCs) or an independent contractor.  The chief school administrator or designee of the board of education of the public school district must confer with the administrator of each of the participating nonpublic schools within the district for the following purposes:

1. To advise the nonpublic school of the limit of funds available for the provision of technology for the full-time pupils enrolled in the nonpublic school.
   
   
2. To agree upon the technology to be provided to the nonpublic school within the limit of the funds that are available for the nonpublic school.

In the event that the chief school administrator or designee and the nonpublic school administrator cannot reach agreement regarding the technology to be provided, the county superintendent shall be consulted to determine the technology to be provided.  The decision of the county superintendent shall be final.

A board of education for an elementary constituent district of a regional school district or a regional school district’s board of education must provide technology only for nonpublic schools having the grade levels for which the district has responsibility.

The technology provided to nonpublic schools must not include providing instructional services directly to nonpublic school students.

Equipment and supplies comparable to that used in a public school district can be purchased and used to provide the technology to nonpublic schools.  Such equipment may be loaned without charge to a nonpublic school for the purpose of providing the technology required under this program.  However, such equipment remains the property of the district board of education and must be labeled as such.

The funds expended by a board of education for the administrative costs related to providing technology for a participating nonpublic school must be limited to the actual cost of administering the provision of technology for the participating nonpublic school or five percent (5%) of the funds allocated for each participating nonpublic school, whichever is less.

Each board of education providing technology to nonpublic schools must submit the following information to the county superintendent on or before October 31 and forward a copy to the administrator(s) of the nonpublic school(s) within their district boundaries.

1. A written statement verifying that the required conference with the nonpublic school administrator was held.
   
   
2. A copy of the agreement between the board of education and the nonpublic school and the minutes of the board of education meeting at which the agreement was approved that describes how the technology will be provided to the nonpublic school.

4. INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS

All nonpublic schools desiring to participate in this program are required to apply each year using the Nonpublic School Enrollment Report.

5. PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT

1. The district board of education in which each nonpublic school is located receives funds from the State based on the number of pupils enrolled in each nonpublic school as of the last school day prior to October 16 of the previous school year.  The Nonpublic School Enrollment Report form determines the amount of State Aid that the district receives.  Equipment may be purchased and loaned to a nonpublic school for the period of time needed to provide the technology required by this program.  Equipment that may be purchased must be removable from a nonpublic school without remodeling the nonpublic school facility.  The equipment purchased must be labeled as “Property of ______________(the district board of education).”  Equipment may be delivered directly to the nonpublic school if the nonpublic school administrator agrees.  The nonpublic school administrator must check the invoice and forward it to the district board of education along with a statement attesting to the fact that all of the equipment has been appropriately labeled indicating the district’s ownership.  After consultation with the nonpublic school administrator, equipment may also reach a nonpublic school as follows:
   
   
   1. The nonpublic school may arrange to pick up the equipment.
      
      
   2. The local board of education may deliver the equipment to the nonpublic school.
      
      
2. Public school districts are not required to purchase equipment at a total cost to the district in excess of the amounts provided by State Aid.
   
   
3. Equipment to be purchased

The equipment purchased must meet the needs of the nonpublic school and be comparable to the type of equipment that would be purchased in a public school district.  Equipment purchases must conform to the requirements of the “Public School Contracts Law.”

6. OWNERSHIP AND STORAGE OF EQUIPMENT

1. All equipment will remain the property of the district board of education in which the nonpublic school is located and such ownership should be indicated on the equipment by labels.
   
   
2. The board of education may require that equipment be returned to the board of education at the end of the school year for storage or when the equipment is no longer required for the purposes of this program.  The benefit of this program to nonpublic school students is intended to be cumulative.  It is the expectation of the department that the technology purchased under this program will continue to benefit nonpublic school students as long as the program continues or as long as the nonpublic school participates in the program.
   
   
3. The board of education may enter into an agreement with the nonpublic school to store the equipment in the nonpublic school at the end of the school year.  In such cases, the district may not pay storage charges of any kind to the nonpublic school.
   
   
4. Only a local school district may dispose of equipment purchased for this program.  Equipment may only be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the “Public School Contracts Law.”

7. FEES AND CHARGES

Equipment must be loaned without charge to a nonpublic school; no fees may be assessed in connection with the loaning of equipment to a nonpublic school.  Expenditures for the purchase of equipment may include the cost of freight for transporting the equipment from the vendor to the delivery site.

8. ACCOUNTING AT LOCAL DISTRICT LEVEL

The district board of education in which the nonpublic school is located must maintain the nonpublic technology initiative program accounting on an encumbrance basis.  A separate general account control "Nonpublic Technology Initiative" must be maintained on the nonpublic technology initiative program activities.  The coding of all expenditures shall be recorded under "Special Revenue Funds-State Projects” account #20-510-XXX-XXX.  The only exception is that the district board of education must maintain separate costs for each nonpublic school’s technology program activities.  Expenditures for the purchase of equipment may include the cost of freight or transporting such equipment from the vendor to the delivery site.  Collections for charges due to the loss, damage, or destruction of the equipment should be recorded as "Miscellaneous Revenue" and credited to the nonpublic school #20-510 account.

State aid received by the district board of education pursuant to this program must be recorded as “Special Revenue Funds-Revenue from State Sources; Restricted Entitlements” in account #20-3230-510.

9. PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT NONPUBLIC TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE

Following the completion of fiscal operations, the district board of education in which the nonpublic school is located shall report to the State Department the total cost of the nonpublic technology provided.  Such report might include the following items:

1. The amount approved for each nonpublic school.
2. The total State aid received.
3. The total of all encumbrances incurred for each nonpublic school.
4. Outstanding unliquidated encumbrances.
5. Nonpublic technology initiative funds on hand.

In the event that the district board of education has been paid funds in excess of the amount finally required for the program costs, the excess funds must be refunded to the State Department no later than December 1.

10. FISCAL AUDIT AND RETENTION OF RECORDS

The nonpublic technology initiative program expenditure records will be audited locally.  All records relating to the program must be retained for audit purposes.  The audit will be done as a regular part of the district board of education’s prescribed audit procedures.  The board of education audit report will include a financial schedule or statement identifying receipts and expenditures applicable to the nonpublic school technology initiative program.

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