New Jersey adds more funding to popular STEM program for private schools

New Jersey’s fiscal year 2026 budget includes more than $3 million to fund STEM education in nonpublic schools.

The program, started in 2019, pays public-school teachers to teach science, technology, engineering and math classes at private schools. It aims to help schools find qualified STEM teachers, improve access to STEM education and strengthen the state’s future workforce.

The state initially set aside $5 million for the program. A few hundred thousand dollars remain from that, and now another $3 million will go toward it.

Teach NJ, a group supporting Jewish education, advocated for the program. Executive Director Katie Katz called it a unique initiative.

“There’s never been anything like this, not just in New Jersey, but in any state in the country,” Katz told the New Jersey Jewish Times. “This type of public-nonpublic partnership doesn’t exist.”

The program started in the 2020-21 academic year with four schools and six teachers.

For the 2025-26 year, 38 schools and 138 teachers will take part. Applications for the 2026-27 year will open in the fall.

“We’re seeing the impact that it’s had on the schools not just on a budget level, but really in terms of quality,” Katz said.

Some schools use the program to teach core subjects, while others offer new classes, including robotics, engineering and food science.

Several academic teams receiving coaching under the program have also won awards.

“It’s really thrilling to see how the program has allowed schools to fill these critical teaching roles, to expand learning opportunities for students, and to give students the opportunity to achieve in the STEM areas at the highest level,” Katz said.

“To me, that says it all,” she added, quoting one school’s tech director who said, “Teach NJ has allowed us to dream bigger for our STEM program.”

To qualify, schools must simply coordinate with public-school teachers whose schedules allow for additional teaching. Teach NJ helps schools find willing and qualified teachers.

“We want to see any school be able to take advantage of this and participate,” Katz said. “So, we’ve been helping schools of all backgrounds access the program – Jewish, Catholic, Islamic, Christian and independent.”

Public-school funding isn’t affected, according to Katz.

“It comes from the general New Jersey budget, not from the public education budget,” she noted. “It’s a true testament to what happens when you build creative partnerships in new ways.”