Updated for the FY2024 grant application cycle for teaching in SY2024-2025

Q: When will the Teach STEM Classes in Nonpublic Schools grant application be posted?

A: The Department of Education (NJDOE) plans to post the grant application on its nonpublic school programs website in mid-December. NJDOE will notify registered nonpublic schools of the grant application when it is available.

Q: How can teachers interested in participating share their contact information with nonpublic schools that want to apply for the grant?

A: Teachers who want to be included on a list of teachers interested in participating in the program must submit their contact information via this survey by January 15, 2024. Teachers can also work directly with nonpublic schools, and are not required to be included on the list in order to form a partnership.

Q: Where can I find the legislation that establishes the Teach STEM Classes in Nonpublic Schools grant program?

A: The original legislation was signed into law in August 2019 (P.L.2019, c.256) and was amended in November 2022 (P.L.2022, c.119).

Q: How does a nonpublic school form a partnership with a teacher?

A: Nonpublic schools that wish to participate in the grant program can request the list of interested teachers by emailing NonpublicSTEMGrant@doe.nj.gov or contacting their respective Executive County Office of Education after January 15, 2024. The nonpublic schools will contact teachers on the lists directly to pursue possible teaching arrangements.

Q: Can a teacher partner with more than one nonpublic school on this grant program?

A: A teacher can form a partnership with multiple nonpublic schools. Each teacher-nonpublic school partnership will require submission of a separate grant application.

Q: Can a nonpublic school submit more than one application if it would like to partner with more than one teacher?

A: Yes, a nonpublic school must submit a separate grant application for each teacher with whom it wants to form a STEM teaching partnership. The number of applications approved/funded per nonpublic school may be limited based on the total number of submissions received by the NJDOE.

Q: Can more than one nonpublic school submit one application jointly?

A: Yes, more than one nonpublic school can submit one grant application jointly, provided the students from the partnering schools will be in one physical location for the STEM classes. The school in which the STEM classes will be taught will be the lead school.

Q: Can STEM classes be taught in the nonpublic school during the public school teacher’s contracted hours?

A: An application shall include the following: acknowledgement from the nonpublic school that the eligible teacher will teach at the nonpublic school during hours during which the teacher has no conflicting public school duties.

Q: Can the school district employing the public school teacher who wishes to enter into a partnership with a participating nonpublic school object to the teacher's participation in this grant program?

A: Yes. A valid objection may be made by the teacher’s public school district superintendent. Upon receiving email notification from a nonpublic school that a teacher employed by the school district plans to participate in the grant program, a school district superintendent may submit to the Commissioner or designee any valid objection within 10 business days. If a valid objection from the superintendent is received and accepted by the NJDOE, then the Commissioner or Commissioner’s designee shall reject the application and inform both the teacher and nonpublic school that the application was rejected. 

Pursuant to N.J.A.C.18A:6-137 (P.L.2022, c.119):

“Valid objection” means an explanation of why a school district disapproves of an eligible teacher employed by the school district from entering into a partnership with a participating nonpublic school.  A school district with a valid objection shall cite, with sufficient supporting proof, as determined by the Commissioner of Education, one or more of the following reasons: 

1. the proposed teaching hours at the nonpublic school conflict with the teacher’s public school work responsibilities and no resolution could be found after consulting with the teacher and nonpublic school; or
2. approval of a proposed partnership between the nonpublic school and teacher would otherwise substantially impact the quality of student instruction in the school district.

If the school district feels the proposed partnership meets one of the above criteria for a valid objection, the superintendent must follow the steps below within 10 business days of receipt of email notification from a nonpublic school that a teacher employed by the public school district plans to participate in this grant program, and in no case later than April 1, 2024. If no objection is submitted within this timeframe, the teacher will be deemed eligible to participate in this program, per the legislation.

1. Forward the email notification of proposed participation (including the application and all attached documents) to the NJDOE at NonpublicSTEMGrant@doe.nj.gov; copy the nonpublic school contact.
2. Provide a written and clear explanation – including evidence of work schedule conflict, if appropriate – that demonstrates a valid objection to the teacher’s proposed partnership, based on the criteria above.

Q: Is a public school teacher who holds a K–6 or N–8 (no longer in use) certification eligible to participate in this grant program?

A: The K–6 and N–8 are generalized endorsements that allow the holder to teach various content areas and are not considered content-specific endorsements in science, math, tech ed or computer science ed (which are separate content-specific endorsements in STEM fields). However, these endorsements allow the holder to teach STEM subjects through grades 6 and 8, respectively. Under the recent Teach STEM statute, C.18A:6-137, a fourth eligibility criteria was added (see below), thus allowing these teachers who currently teach a STEM subject in a public school district to “teach a STEM subject and a grade level in the nonpublic school…”  

The Teach STEM statute, C.18A:6-137, defines "eligible teacher" as follows:

“Eligible teacher” means an individual who is employed as a teacher in a public school and who meets one of the following criteria:

1. holds a valid and effective provisional or standard instructional certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners with an endorsement in a science field, mathematics, technology education, or computer science education;
2. is currently enrolled in a degree program or a coherent sequence of courses in science, mathematics, technology, or computer science; 
3. will enroll in a degree program or a coherent sequence of courses in science, mathematics, technology, or computer science within two years of the effective date; or
4. is currently employed by a public school district to teach in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or computer science field and will teach a subject and a grade level in the nonpublic school for which the teacher holds appropriate certification, including certification without a specific subject matter endorsement where permitted by N.J.S.A. 18A:26-1 et seq.

Q: Are charter and Renaissance school teachers eligible to participate in the program?

A: The grant applies only to “an eligible teacher employed by a school district…”, which disqualifies charter school teachers as eligible for participation. However, Renaissance school teachers are eligible to participate.   

Q: What grade levels are eligible to participate in this grant opportunity?

A: Grant applications are for teaching STEM classes for grades 5 through 12.

Q: How are public school teachers’ grant awards calculated?

A: A participating teacher shall receive an amount equal to the teacher’s annual salary as calculated on a per-hour basis multiplied by the number of hours the teacher teaches STEM classes at a nonpublic school under the program multiplied by 1.25. The hourly salary shall be based on 180 days per year and seven hours per day.

Q: Are part-time public school teachers eligible to participate in this grant program? And how should a part-time teacher calculate the teacher’s salary per hour?

A: Yes, part-time public school teachers are eligible to participate in this grant program. The grant award amount will be based on the teacher’s salary as calculated on a per hour basis and the number of hours teaching STEM classes at the nonpublic school. Documentation showing how the hourly rate was determined must be provided along with the application.

Q: Who should be contacted with questions about the grant program?

A: If questions, please contact NonpublicSTEMGrant@doe.nj.gov.

Q: Can the instruction provided by a Teach STEM grant-funded teacher be provided as a hybrid of in-person and online classes?

A: The instruction for STEM classes funded through this program should be provided in a format that is consistent with the nonpublic school’s instructional format at the time and requirements set forth by the NJDOE/Governor. Grant funded classes can be held virtually only to the extent the nonpublic school holds virtual classes during the regular school day.