Republican gubernatorial candidate Giacchino Michael ‘Jack’ Ciattarelli has proposed what experts are calling one of the most sweeping education reforms in recent New Jersey history: a universal school voucher program that would provide $8,000 annually per student to any family choosing private or home schooling, regardless of income.
The plan, modeled after Florida’s system, would fundamentally reshape education funding in a state long proud of its public school system but now facing multiple crises.
The proposal would spend an additional $1.6 billion a year on the more than 200,000 students already attending private schools in New Jersey, in addition to those who would leave public schools
Democrats and education advocates warn the proposal could deliver a “death knell” to public schools already grappling with teacher shortages, budget gaps, and potential layoffs.
Ciattarelli, however, frames the plan as “liberation” for families trapped in underperforming districts.
“School choice means school choice for everyone,” said Ciattarelli spokesman Chris Russell. “Money follows the student.”
Universal Eligibility, Unknown Costs
The cornerstone of Ciattarelli’s plan is universal eligibility. Every New Jersey family — from a billionaire in Short Hills to a single mother in Camden — would qualify for $8,000 per student annually to use toward private school tuition, including religious institutions, or homeschooling expenses. A family with six children could receive up to $48,000 per year.
The proposal would extend financial support to more than 200,000 students already attending private schools in New Jersey, in addition to those who might switch from public schools.
While Ciattarelli has not specified the program’s total cost, estimates based on current private school enrollment alone start at about $1.6 billion annually.
Florida’s comparable program costs nearly $4 billion each year.
Ciattarelli has not detailed how he would fund the vouchers while also promising deep tax cuts and facing what analysts project to be a persistent state budget deficit. His proposed new school funding formula would likely reduce state aid to poorer districts, including Camden, Asbury Park and Newark.
Public Schools Already Under Strain
While some of its schools are among the best in the nation, New Jersey’s braoder public education system faces several challenges that would worsen under a voucher system.
Teacher shortages: About 10% of teachers leave the profession within their first three years, and the number of provisional teaching certificates issued in the state has dropped nearly 40% over the past decade. The result has been staffing crises, particularly in special education and STEM subjects.
Burnout and low salaries, compounded by pandemic-era pressures, have created what one analysis called a “perfect storm.” Districts have responded by hiring underqualified candidates, increasing class sizes and cutting course offerings.
Funding crises: Several districts face severe budget shortfalls due to changes in the state’s funding formula. Toms River Regional Schools, which recently announced it was exploring Chapter 9 bankruptcy, faces a $22.3 million deficit. Superintendent Mike Citta blamed a “politically driven formula for the distribution of state aid.”
The district has cut more than 250 staff positions, reduced supply budgets and sold administrative buildings since 2017, with officials warning of further impacts on students and taxpayers.
Federal funding uncertainty: New Jersey schools also face uncertainty from recent federal funding freezes. The Trump administration’s freeze of $143 million for after-school and summer programs left 67 grantees serving about 32,000 students in limbo.
“Withholding these funds will cause lasting harm to students and families, and to our education system, our future workforce and our economy,” said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance.
Supporters See Liberation; Critics See Destruction
Voucher advocates argue that the program would provide crucial alternatives for families in struggling districts.
“For Ciattarelli, and for supporters of similar programs in Florida, a voucher program is liberation,” said Patrick Graff of the American Federation for Children. “It frees children trapped in failing public schools.”
Graff noted that Florida’s program helped Catholic schools become more reflective of their communities’ diversity. “Thanks to voucher money and financial aid, our school was able to reflect the diversity of our Catholic community for the first time,” he said.
Democrats, however, warn of catastrophic consequences for public education.
“This would destroy the public school system,” said Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, who chairs the Senate Education Committee and also leads Mikie Sherrill’s gubernatorial campaign. “The no-income cap aspect, the lack of accreditation requirements, the homeschooling piece — it’s all extreme. This is probably the most radical education proposal we’ve seen anywhere in the country.”
Gopal suggested political motivations behind the plan, noting its potential popularity in communities with large private religious school populations, such as Lakewood’s Orthodox Jewish community, where roughly 60,000 students attend private schools.
Accountability and Implementation Questions
Critics point to Florida’s experience as a cautionary tale on oversight and effectiveness.
- Limited transparency: Private schools receiving voucher funds are not required to publicly report standardized test results or academic outcomes, making it difficult for parents to evaluate performance.
- Variable quality: “The quality of schools is wildly different,” said Norin Dollard of the Florida Policy Institute. “Small private schools are proliferating.” Investigations have found some operating in strip malls.
- Questionable spending: Florida families have used voucher money for paddleboards, televisions and theme park tickets, according to critics.
- Insufficient funding: In Florida, about 41,000 students did not use their vouchers last year. Thirty-five percent said there were no available seats at desired schools, and 20% said the amount didn’t cover tuition and fees.
The plan would also fund religious education directly for the first time in New Jersey history, raising constitutional questions.
Assemblyman Alexander Schnall, D-Lakewood, said, “The money follows the child, so there’s no issue of separation of church and state.” But the ACLU of New Jersey disagrees, calling such programs unconstitutional.
Political Future
With the gubernatorial election approaching, Ciattarelli’s proposal represents a stark contrast to Blue Dog Democratic opponent Congresswoman Rebecca Michelle ‘Mikie’ Sherrill’s education platform.
Sherrill has emphasized investments in tutoring, student mental health and equity within existing public schools. She supports well-regulated charter schools but opposes vouchers.
Even if Ciattarelli wins, the plan’s future remains uncertain. Gopal has vowed that as Senate Education chair, he would never post such legislation for a vote, calling it “insane” and warning it would “bankrupt New Jersey’s budget.”
As New Jersey voters weigh competing visions, the debate over Ciattarelli’s voucher plan underscores deep questions about educational equity, the role of public institutions and the future of a school system long considered among the nation’s best — now facing what may be its most consequential crossroads.