Funding Available For Schools Helping Kids Struggling Due To Pandemic From The Desk Of The Governor Phil Murphy

TRENTON – To further assist schools in promoting the academic recovery of New Jersey students to help close achievement gaps that were caused or exacerbated by disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Phil Murphy announced an additional $35 million in funding is being made available for learning acceleration through the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. In total, more than $50 million is being made available to accelerate learning in the 2023-2024 school year.

“My Administration remains committed to addressing the academic needs of New Jersey students and providing them with the high-quality education they deserve,” said Governor Murphy. “This investment will pay dividends for our state by setting students up for success from a young age and ensuring they are prepared to grow

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Health Centers which provide free health care to all.

The event was held at Ocean Health Initiatives’ Toms River facility at 10 Stockton Drive and while the skies threatened rain, the sun came out just as the event was set to start.

This year’s NHCW theme is “Community Health Centers: The Roadmap to a Stronger America” because community health centers strengthen the economic, physical, and emotional health of the communities they serve.

Following the kick-off press conference, OHI’s community event featured live music, free ice cream, balloon artists, photo booths, inflatable hoop games and many free giveaways from OHI and all the event sponsors: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ, United Health Care, Amerigroup, Fidelis Care (Wellcare) and Aetna. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the OHI facility. The event’s keynote speaker was entrepreneur and philanthropist Eric LeGrande, a former defensive tackle who played college football at Rutgers. He became paralyzed while making a tackle on October 16, 2010.

LeGrand suffered a severe spinal cord injury during that game against Army in East Rutherford at MetLife Stadium. He has since regained movement in his shoulders and sensation throughout his body. As of and thrive throughout their educational journey and beyond.”

This funding is comprised of nearly $17 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds and $35 million in ARP State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF) allocated in the FY2024 State budget. This funding will be used to invest in evidence-based practices that will help strengthen learning acceleration in schools throughout the state. Grants must be used to accelerate learning by increasing educational time through before-school, after-school, and summer learning programs and/or by implementing other high-quality, evidence-based interventions and programs.

The Department of Education is prioritizing schools implementing high-impact tutoring, an intervention for learning acceleration with a strong evidence base, for third and fourth-grade students statewide. School districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects are encouraged to submit applications to the Department of Education for a grant by responding to the

2020, LeGrand has been making consistent recovery at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.

LaGrand said, “I was hoping to make it to the NFL. The amount of support I had was important. I was 20 years old and scared.”

He said that through adversity, “I wake up every morning with a purpose. Without healthcare I wouldn’t be here today. It isn’t about a pay check it is about the people you help, your patients. You do things that help people.”

The OHI event included the New Jersey Primary Care Association (NJPCA), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Region II, New Jersey Department of Human Services, New Jersey Department of Health, OHI President and CEO Dr. Theresa Berger, and Toms River Township Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill.

Dr. Berger noted that “health centers are responsible for providing critical care to over 30 million residents of our beautiful land, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or whether they can pay for their services.”

“Health centers serve a vital role in our nation’s local communities by filling in the gaps that other healthcare providers neglect: the poor, the undocumented, the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. It is organizations such as these that deliver on the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans and every person who graces our land,” she added.

Notice of Grant Opportunity by September 13, 2023.

Priority consideration will be given to applicants that demonstrate they will – through participation in the program – or already have obligated or expended ARP Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds toward learning acceleration beyond the 20 percent minimum allocation as a demonstration of ability and commitment to address learning loss and take full advantage of their COVID relief funding.

“Learning acceleration is the key to bridging learning gaps and leveling the playing field for students,” said Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, Acting Commissioner of Education. “By embracing innovative strategies and tailored support, and by designing instruction to inspire high levels of student engagement and interest, we can create a transformative educational experience that equips our youth for success.”

“Providing for the education of New Jersey’s students is of the utmost importance. Parents deserve to feel confident that their children are receiving the best education possible in our schools. We know the COVID-19 pandemic was disruptive to the

“National Health Center Week is a great time to recognize the contributions of our centers and spread the news about the availability of high quality, affordable care at each and every one of the 1,400 health centers and their 14,000 plus sites across the country,” NJPCA President and CEO Selina Haq said.

“Our centers are unique in the care they provide, the communities they serve, and the linkages to life-saving resources they create for their patients, and NJPCA is proud to celebrate this week in recognition of their extraordinary services,” she added.

New Jersey’s 23 FQHCs and one FQHC look-a-like serve nearly 600,000 patients across all 21 counties of the State and provide over 2.02 million primary, dental, and behavioral healthcare visits for their patients annually.

“Each year we celebrate National Health Center Week, spotlighting our Federally Qualified Health Centers and the vital primary care services provided for the most vulnerable people in our communities, people who often think quality, life-saving care may be hard to attain,” NJPCA Board Chair and Metropolitan Family Health Network President and CEO Joan Dublin said.

Cheryl Donald, Regional Administrator U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, said “health centers protect and promote the health of more than 30 million people in the U.S. For 58 years, health centers have delivered affordable, accessible, learning experience of our students. That’s why we have made it a priority to equip schools with the resources necessary to support learning acceleration,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “This funding will make before-school and after-school programs, summer learning opportunities, and high-impact tutoring initiatives more accessible, helping students to recover missed opportunities and putting them on the path to academic success. Thank you to my colleagues in the Legislature and Governor Murphy for being partners in this work.”

“NJEA welcomes these additional funds and appreciates the governor’s emphasis on evidence-based strategies to accelerate student learning,” said New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) President Sean M. Spiller. “We look forward to working with the Department of Education to support educators in helping students overcome the challenges of the pandemic. New Jersey’s schools are the best in the nation because of the expertise that NJEA members bring to our schools and their dedication to their students, and because we have a governor who understands that educators need resources such as this funding for learning acceleration to enhance student success.” and high-quality primary health care to millions of people, regardless of their ability to pay. No one is turned away.”

NJ Department of Human Services Deputy Commissioner Elisa Neira said, “New Jersey’s community health centers serve as a lifeline for some of our most vulnerable populations. Expanding health care access to more New Jerseyans continues to be a priority for this administration, and the state’s community health centers play a role in this effort.”

“They provide preventative and primary health care to individuals and families who may otherwise not have access to these services; serving patients regardless of income, insurance or immigration status.” Neira added.

Members of the public were able to receive free COVID-19 testing and vaccines as well as other testing and screenings. These vaccines and screenings were administered by OHI. Anyone six months and above was eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination.

Mayor Hill, a former dentist, thanked health care providers.

“Your compensation could probably be higher in the private sector but it shows your commitment to your patients and for that I want to thank you. I also want to recognize OHI’s 20 years of providing high quality health care for the residents of Toms River, Ocean and Monmouth counties. OHI provides a wide range of services to our most vulnerable residents.”