A ruling years ago in the so-called Abbott case by the New Jersey Supreme Court triggered an influx of state aid to poor urban districts that in turn brought teaching assistants, computers and new textbooks into bare-bones classrooms. But under a new school financing law approved last month, the state’s 31 Abbott districts will no longer receive special financial consideration. Many of those districts say they are bracing for layoffs and program cuts because state aid won't cover rising costs for teacher salaries and benefits, utilities, building insurance and instruction.
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FROM JANUARY: Less than a day after New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's school-funding overhaul squeaked through the Legislature, many groups and stakeholders in the plan were already mulling over ways to attempt to challenge or change it. Among those are advocates for disadvantaged urban districts, special-education students, taxpayers and suburban schools. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
EARLIER: New Jersey legislators have approved a $7.8 billion plan to revamp the state’s formula of financing the state’s public schools. The plan is designed to direct more money to children who live outside the poorest districts, which now receive more than half of all state aid. If the plan survives the scrutiny of the State Supreme Court, the state would apportion funds to schools based on demographics, including family income, population growth, language ability and special academic needs.
Click here to read The New York Times article.
New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s proposal to revamp the state's formula for financing schools has cleared two important legislative hurdles. Budget committees in both the State Senate and Assembly have approved the plan, which would allocate funds to schools based on demographics including family income, population growth, language ability and special academic needs.
Click here to read The New York Times article
To read more about the New Jersey school finance proposal, click here.
