The proposed Bill No. 5545, introduced by REP. ANDERSON of the 62nd District and SEN. SEMINARA of the 8th District, has been referred to the Committee on EDUCATION. The bill mandates the Department of Education to conduct a study on the fiscal impact of implementing a school voucher program in the state. This program would allow a voucher, equivalent to the per pupil average of the state education cost-sharing grant received by a school district for the 2022 school year, to be used by a child towards tuition and fees at an approved nonpublic school. The calculation of the voucher amount would be based on the student census of October 2023.

The purpose of this study is to understand the potential state and local financial implications of a school voucher system. The bill aims to explore the viability of such a program as a means to enhance educational opportunities, with a particular focus on aiding economically challenged school districts. The bill does not include any text for insertion or deletion from current law, as it is focused on initiating a study rather than enacting or amending existing legislation.