NJCC to voters: Ask Gov. Sherrill to opt in N.J. for students to access federal tax dollars

The New Jersey Catholic Conference launched an advocacy campaign on Oct. 5 to urge voters to ask Governor Mikie Sherrill to opt New Jersey into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit. If the governor accepts the program by the Jan. 1, 2027, deadline, eligible families could use federal tax dollars for education expenses at no cost to the state.

The program would provide scholarships to students attending both public and non-public schools. To support the campaign, the conference released digital graphics, social media materials, bulletin inserts, and an action alert to be distributed through parishes, Catholic schools, and media outlets across the state.

Bishop David M. O'Connell of the Diocese of Trenton supported the program in his capacity as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education. In a message released Oct. 2, O'Connell described the credit as a transformative opportunity and noted the Church's teaching that parents are the primary educators of their children.