Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     GSCS Email-Net Archive - Recent and Selected Posting
     GSCS Email-Net 11-16-10
     GSCS News 'Email-Net' Archive, beginning 2009
     6-2-10 RACE TO THE TOP (RTTT) 'NJ STYLE': It is what it is ...but what exactly is it? Race to the Top application is caught in a crossfire of reports - more information and clarity is needed
     3-4-10 GSCS Email-Net: Summit @ Summit Report - A New Day in Trenton?
     2-12-10 Gov Chrisite's Message re Current Yr Deficit
     2-16-10 Email-net March @ Summit at Summit
     1-26-10 GSCS Email-Net Christie Era Begins
     1-20-10 GSCS Heads Up FYI.docx
     1-6-10 GSCS Email-Net Lame Duck Watch
     12-15-09 Email-Net
     11-9-09 GSCS Email-Net: Request to Trustee Districts
     11-6-09 GSCS Email-Net: Important Post-Election Information
     11-5-09 GSCS Email-Net: Election Information - Christie on Education - and Request to Member Districts
     11-3-09 GSCS Email-Net: Today is Election Day - Coverage, more
     10-21-09 GSCS EMAIL-NET: Commissioner Davy to be at GSCS meeting in Atlantic City
     10-15-09 GSCS Email-Net: Compare Corzine-Christie re education
     9-25-09 GSCS EMAIL-NETOn GSCS Radar Screen, Intro Cons. Cntct
     9-14-09 GSCS EMAILNET Welcome 2009-2010
     6-24-09 GSCS EMAILNET Heads Up FYI
     6-22 & 24 (update) - 09 GSCS EMAILNET FYI re bills A4140, A1489, A4142
     6-19-09 a.m. GSCS 'Quick' FYI - State Budget Vote delayed to Thursday, June 25
     6-15-09 GSCS Heads Up FYI
     6-12-09 EMAILNET
     6-4-09 EMAILNET
     5-19-09 Treasurer David Rousseau announces additional round of cuts to Gov's proposed State Budget FY2009-2010
     5-14-09 GSCS Heads Up - State Aid payments to be delayed into next Fiscal Year
     428-09 EMAILNET Abbott & SFRA; DOE before State Budget Committees
     4-17-09 EMAILNET Federal Stimulus Title 1 and IDEA Allocations Announced
     4-2-09 EMAILNET & GSCS FYI for April 2009
     3-27-09 EMAILNET
     3-16-09 EMAILNET
     3-6-09 GSCS March FYI - Trenton & GSCS Happenings & more
     2-23-09 EMAILNET
     2-12-09 EMAILNET GSCS Message for State Budget FY10: STABILITY & FAIRNESS
     1-30-09 EMAILNET Fed Stimulus Proposal, School Vote, Stability & Fairness
     1-24-09 EMAILNET Federal Stimulus proposal - local district impact listing
     1-17-09 GSCS EMAILNET & SCHOOL FUNDING OVERVIEW
     1-17-09 GSCS EMAILNET
     Education excerpts from House Fed Stimulus package in GSCS 1-15-09 Heads Up
     GSCS 1-15-09 'Heads Up' - House Releases its Fed Stimulus Package
     January 2009 GSCS FYI
     1-5-09 EMAILNET Gov Announces Spending Reductions for FY0809 Today
     12-21-08 GSCS EMAILNET - Excerpts
     10-31-08 EMAILNET
     10-17-08 EMAILNET
     9-29-08 GSCS EMAILNET
     9-12-08 GSCS EMAILNET
     7-2-08 EMAILNET FYI
     6-17-08 EMAILNET FYI, State Budget Agreement, School Construction bill moving towards passage
     6-10-08 GSCS EMAILNET FYI Trenton focus
     5-30-08 EMAILNET FYI - GSCS ANNUAL MTG NEWS BRIEFS
     4-16-08 EMAILNETSchool Budget Elections early results
     1-18-07 GSCS EMAILNET FYI
     1-14-08 EMAILNET Governor Corzine Sign funding legisation into law 1-13-08 at Drumthwacket
     1-11-08 EMAILNET Funding legislation passes - Aftermath
     1-4-08 EMAILNET GSCS statement on current funding proposal - leaning negative
     1-3-08 EMAILNET Aid proposal - update & analysis
     12-21-07 EMAILNET - GSCS spots 'Giveback' provision in draft bill - a flip flop?
     12-19-07 Proposed Funding formula - update
     12-12-07 EMAILNET Funding Plan proposal to be released today, no bill yet
     12-7-07 EMAILNET Jt Committees schedule hearing on new school funding plan, Commissioner Davy to present
     12-6-07 EMAILNET Funding bill - emerging issues
     12-1-07 EMAILNET FYI Governor Corzine present new school funding formula concepts
     11-30-07 EMAILNET FYI
     11-13-07 GSCS EMAILNET
     11-6-07 EMAILNET
     10-15-07 GSCS EMAILNET
     10-1-07 GSCS EMAILNET
     071015 EMAILNET
     071001 EMAILNET
     9-21-07 EMAILNET
     7-31-07 EMAILNET Status of School Funding Formula, more
     7-10-07 EMAILNET Includes GSCS ADVOCACY PACKET Need for new school funding formula, more
     6-29-07 EMAILNET Lots of news affeccting your schools and communities
     6-22-07 EMAILNET State Budget Passes last night
     6-14-07 GSCS FYI EMAILNET State Budge FY08 Revisions to State Budget filed today
     6-13-07 GSCS EMAILNET
     5-18-07 EMAILNET School Funding Formula Needed Now
     3-30-07 EMAILNET
     3-21-07 EMAILNET
     3-6-07 EMAILNET State Budget hearings, State Aid, Grassroots activities
     2-22-07 GSCS EMAILNET re Gov's Budget Message
     2-20-07 EMAILNET FYI - AMID joins GSCS
     2-12-07 EMAILNET SCHOOL AID & PROPERTY TAX HELP NEEDED NOW
     2-9-07 GSCS EMAILNET MEMBER FYI on Trenton legislation Action
     1-26-07 EMAILNET TRENTON UPDATE: A4 CORE Plan on Assembly Agenda Monday; A1 The 4% Tax Cap bill not yet introduced but still possible for Assembly agenda 1-29 also
     1-19-07 EMAILNET
     1-2 & 3-07 EMAILNET GSCS Resolution, Fast Track Property Tax bills
     12-15-06 EMAILNET Bills Held!
     11-14-06GSCS FYI EMAILNET - Spec Session Jt Comm Reports due out 11-15-06
     11-11-06 EMAILNET Special Session Legislative Committees report Nov. 14 or 15
     11-7-06 EMAILNET Special Education Categorical aid at risk and more
     10-21-06 EMAILNET Spec Session, press conference, GSCS board mtg inAtl. City
     10-5-06 EMAILNET
     9-22-06 EMAILNET
     9-20-06 EMAILNET Special Session news & testimonies
     9-15-06 EMAILNET Special Session; School Construction Report Released
     9-7-06 EMAILNET Special Session & Trenton Update
     8-31-06 EMAILNET re Sept 5 Jt Comm on Pub Schl Funding mtg
     7-21-06 GSCS QUICKNET
     8-24-06 EMAILNET Special Session Update
     8-18-06 EMAILNET
     8-2-06 EMAILNET Special Session fyi, more
     7-28-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET' direct from Trenton
     7-28-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET' from Trenton on Special Session
     7-27-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET' Property Tax Session info
     7-14-06 EMAILNET
     7-11-06 EMAILNET FYI
     7-7-06 EMAILNET - AGREEMENT ON STATE BUDGET REACHED, impt 'details' still being finalized
     6-29-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET FYI' Update on State Budget for FY 2007
     6-22-06 EMAILNET on the Homepage today
     6-12-06 EMAILNET - Extraordinary Special Education student aid; FY07 Budget 'crunch' is on; news clips
     6-6-06 EMAILNET On the Homepage today
     6-2-06 EMAILNET
     5-16-06 EMAILNET Action in Trenton
     5-10-06 EMAILNET
     5-5-06 EMAILNET
     4-26-06 EMAILNET Member Question 6-8 Rally
     4-24-06 EMAILNET
     4-17-06 EMAILNET
     4-11-06 EMAILNET FYI Hompage...your help requested
     3-29-06 EMAILNET State Budget FY07 Hearings Update
     3-24-06 EMAILNET FYI Update on Gov Corzine's Budget FY07
     3-23-06 EMAILNET Corzine says some Abbotts can raise taxes
     3-22-06 EMAILNET Governor Corzine's Budget Message
     3-10-06 EMAILNET On the Homepage Today
     3-9-06 EMAILNETto South Jersey districts
     3-7-06 Articles on Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members off to Trenton
     3-7-06 EMAILNET S1701 Call to Action at Gov Corzine Public Hearing
     3-3-06 EMAILNET Budget discussions begin in earnest
     3-3-06 EMAILNET Budget Discussions begin in earnest
     3-1-06 EMAILNET State Budget FY07, Health Benefits
     2-1-06 EMAILNET GSCS Advocacy FY07 Budget; On the Homepage Today
     1-19-06 EMAILNET Quick Facts, On the Homepage Today
     1-5-06 EMAILNET Revised: Quick Facts, State Board Legal Committee school funding decision, legislative update
     12-16-05 EMAILNET
     12-12-05 EMAILNET Bills move out of Assembly Education Committee
     12-3-05 EMAILNET Heads Up!
     11-28-05 S1701 EMAILNET Alert
     11-15-05 EMAILNET
     11-10-05 [REISSUE] EMAILNET Update on S1701
     11-8-05 EMAILNET You are invited to December 7 Symposium on School Funding
     11-1-05 EMAILNET More information on Gubernatorial Candidates
     10-28-05 EMAILNET S1701 resignation, Gubernatorial election information
     10-20-14 EMAILNET At the top of the GSCS Home Page Today
     10-14-05 EMAILNET Parent question for Gubernatorial Candidates aired on 101.5 debate, SCC funds, Next Board meeting, press briefing notes
     9-29-05 EMAILNET School Construction Issues
     9-23-05 EMAILNET Follow Up Parents in Trenton Press Conference
     8-30-05 EMAILNET Invitation to Parents in Trenton Press Conference
     9-9-05 EMAILNET
     7-29-05 EMAILNET
     7-14-05 EMAILNET School Aid Inequity & S1701 amendments update
     7-8-05 EMAILNET GSCS Take on the Assembly Passing of A3680Cryan, an S1701 amendment bill
     6-29-05 EMAILNET re State Budget FY06
     EMAILNET 6-24-05 GSCS Positions: State Budget FY06 Issues Need Resolving
     EMAILNET 6-10-05 SchoolConstruction Heads Up
     Read Parent Call to Action Letter
     6-17-05 EMAILNET [2] School Construction continued
     6-17-05 EMAILNET FY06 Budget & Advocay Update, Quick Facts
     EMAILNET 6-10-05 School Construction Funding Heads Up!
     EMAILNET 6-8-05 Annual Meeting Advocacy - FY06 info - Quick Facts - more
     Star Ledger June 3 2005
     Associated Press on Annual Meeting, 6-4-05: In the Homestretch Candidates Talk Education Issues
     GSCS 14th Annual Breakfast Meeting 6-3-05 AGENDA
     EMAILNET 5-27-05FY06 Legislator Budget Question; A451 State Health Benefits Plan Waiver for Dual Spouse Coverage GSCS Supports ....
     5-18-2005
     5-6-05 EMAILNET Rumson S1701 Meeting; Legislative News...More
     4-21-05 Annual Breakfast Meeting June 3 Sign Up
     Emailnet 4-14-05
     4-14-05 EMAILNET
     4-8-2005
     3-29-2005
     3-24-2005
     3-11-2005
     3-1-2005
     2-21-2005
     2-7-2005
     1-27-2005
     1-26-2005
     1-24-2005
     1-14-2005
     1-9-2005
     1-5-2005
     11-30-2004
     11-19-2004
     11-12-2004
     10-29-2004
     10-26-2004
     10-15-2004
     10-14-2004
     10-5-2004
     9-30-04
     9-7-04
     8-30-04
     8-06-04
     7-08-04
     6-29-2004
     2003-2004 School Year Archive
     2002-2003 School Year Archive
1-4-08 EMAILNET GSCS statement on current funding proposal - leaning negative

 

GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS/GSCS

 

1-4-08 GSCS FYI

 

One: GSCS FYI Statement on S4000-Buono and A500-Roberts

‘The new school funding formula proposal bills’

 

and

 

Two: New information of the GSCS website today…

 

 

One: GSCS is negative on the school funding bill as currently proposed

GSCS FYI 1-4-08 Negative position on the new school funding formula bills S4000-Senator Barbara Buono and A500-Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts, here’s why...While we would prefer not to throw out the baby with the bathwater (a number of districts do receive healthy boosts in needed aid, e.g, and there a some good concepts within the bill such as a ‘unified’ formula approach, as well), MAJOR CONCERNS on the fast-track lame duck school funding proposal continue to remain…More questions than answers set an uncertain, negative table. Without amendments and without clarity as to how the formula will play out in the future, it is ‘too risky to cast a yes vote’ to make the bill become law. The backed-into-a-corner process is somewhat reminiscent of how QEA was sprung on the public in the early 90’s. Risky business. Let’s hurry up and wait just a bit to do it better.

There’s still time, at least through Monday afternoon. GSCS suggests you call your local legislator, the bill sponsors now… Relay the following concerns. Ask them the questions below. (Legislators phones ring over the weekend/leave messages if need be; Find your legislators’ phone numbers at  http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp . Answers to these questions provide information legislators need to know and consider before casting a yes vote on A500-Roberts in the Assembly and S4000-Buono in the Senate this coming Monday, January 3, 2008.

SOME MAJOR GSCS CONCERNS ARE:

 Local fair share applications in the bill & implications for the future are not clear; this variable should also require out-year projections to see how they will play out when/if the hold harmless provision is removed/reduced.

Lack of statewide consensus on the bills.

State-defined enrollment projections determine local adequacy budget. The rationale behind the projections, as well as the projections themselves, require more review and justification.  (e.g., a district currently growing at rapid rates over past 5 years is projected to lose enrollment next year by the state, which makes that district one that is forecast to be spending over adequacy and it will get minimum amount of aid and be subject to giveback provision.)

Special education aid overhaul is opposed by virtually all types of organizations that are involved in public education...nonetheless, the bill persists in wealth-equalizing this aid as well as basing it on averages, rather than the individual student's needs - this conflicts with the administration's stated philosophy of plan, in which the 'money follows the student'. this sea-change should not be imposed in a one-year, untested dramatic switch-over.

In the absence of provisions that clearly indicate the state’s support budgets’ abilities to grow, two outcomes can be deduced: 1) the bill is more about cost-containment than school funding, and 2) the bill seeks a driving down of schools spending to the new adequacy budget level.  A relevant statistic: right now 380 districts are already spending over the state’s adequacy budget figures, just about 2/3 of all the regular operating districts in this state.

Questions to ask your legislator:  does your legislator know? …

What specific districts the state considers to be over and which ones are under their state-determined adequacy budget?

What is your district adequacy budget 'overage & underage' amounts for FY0809? What do those figures imply for your district?

What state foundation/adequacy aid per cent is your district entitled to receive under the proposal, compared to under CEIFA?

What does it appear your district's over and under figures might be as the formula takes over from the hold harmless provisions in the out years?

How does your local tax effort impact your district’s state aid? (Many districts have had to raise taxes in lieu of the state flat funding of formula aid since fy02 which has raised their local tax effort to a stress level; middle income districts can be hit hard by this in the out years.)

Given that 2/3 of the state’s regular operating districts are already spending above the adequacy budget level as proposed in the bill, will my district’s education be leveled down?

Have you ever been asked to vote on such a comprehensive piece of legislation is such a short period of time?

Do the majority of school communities in your district support this legislation?

 

Two:

 

On the GSCS homepage today @  www.gscschools.org

 

GSCS is negative on the school funding bill as currently proposed
GSCS FYI 1-4-08 on the new school funding formula bills S4000-Senator Barbara Buono and A500-Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts...IMPORTANT: Click on More here to read GSCS' rationale and what you can do to help support your schools public education programs...
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1-4-08 SCHOOL FUNDING PLAN - NEW DISTRICT DATA AVAILABLE ON DOE WEBSITE
Go to the website link - by clicking on More below - to obtain 1) the “underlying” calculations for your Local Fair Share and Adequacy Budget. Local Fair Share is a very important number, because if this number is in excess of your adequacy budget, you must reduce the local tax levy by any amount in excess of the CPI, and 2)district by district detailed calculations under the proposed formula are now available on the NJDOE website below.
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1-4-08 UPDATED from 1-2-08: Link to State Aid data that includes Local Fair Share
Look to the far columns on the right side of the pages to find your districts 'local fair share' as calculated by the state. Local Fair Share is important as it will be a variable in the formula that will have consequences for local districts. For example, if your district is spending over it's 'adequacy budget' and yet still is deemed to be able to tax more at the local level, your district is likely to lose aid. The converse is also likely to be true. NOTE: The local fair share calculation publsihed by the DOE does not include a percentage breakdown by district of how much state adequacy (foundation) aid your district is entitled to as a result of their revised & updaed calculation per the new proposal. In addition, it does not show the percent entitlement districts were receiving under CEIFA, so there is no good way to determine how the revisions really affect your district at this time. If your district is now slated to receive foundation aid for the first time in recent history, is it slated to get a 1% or 10% or 20% entitlement? If your district was entitled to receive foundation aid in the past, is it now entitled to receive more or less of a percentage of the entitlement under the proposed formula? Important questions that need to be answered before legislators take a vote on the proposal.

Click on More here to get the link where you can find the DOE's Local Fair Share information(from DOE homepage under New Formula for Schools........)
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1-3-08 School Funding bill passed in Assembly Budget Committee late Thursday
This sets the stage for the fast-track lame duck bill floor vote in both houses this Monday, January 3, the last session day of the 'old' legislature. Click on More here to read related articles.
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1-3-08 Senate committee approves Corzine's school-funding plan
Senate committee approves Corzine's school-funding plan by Dunstan McNichol/The Star-Ledger STAR LEDGER - Thursday January 03, 2008, 1:33 PM The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today approved Gov. Jon Corzine's plan to change the way the state distributes $7.8 billion in aid to schools...
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