New Jersey school administrators could be required to meet strict conditions to receive taxpayer-paid tuition assistance or additional pay for advanced degrees under the terms of a bill being considered today by the Assembly Education Committee. The legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, stems from an episode at the Freehold Regional High School District where three administrators used $8,700 in taxpayer funds to pay for doctoral “degrees” from Breyer State University – an unaccredited online diploma mill. Before the bogus nature of the degrees was uncovered, the district provided each with a $2,500 salary increase, which was commensurate to their being awarded actual doctoral degrees.

Freehold Regional Superintendent James Wasser has apologized and gave up the $2,500 stipend after it was learned he and two other administrators had received bogus degrees. Star Ledger.