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GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS/GSCS
SEPTEMBER 2007
Dear GSCS member,
To date,
GSCS works hard at the state & local level to see that school funding is stable and sufficient enough to protect quality education programs and provide real relief to property taxpayers. GSCS encourages school district leaders to inform the public, and public officials, of your concerns and impatience with state leaders’ reluctance to address public school funding and its direct link to property tax increases. Now is the time to take a pro-active role and launch grassroots awareness campaigns on these critically important issues. Please make use of this advocacy packet as soon as possible– your help is key to seeing that the prolonged school funding debate moves forward to reality.
Thank you.
ATTACHED
1) GSCS FUNDING FORMULA CONCERNS-- EXPLANATORY LETTER TO PARENTS, SCHOOL ADVOCATES, LOCAL TAXPAYERS
2) SUGGESTED LETTER TO LEGISLATORS/LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES
3) SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR
4) CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE OF CONTACTING LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES FROM NOW UP TO ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2007--EXPLANATORY LETTER
5) THREE QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATE TODAY
1.GSCS FUNDING FORMULA CONCERNS— EXPLANATORY LETTER TO PARENTS, SCHOOL ADVOCATES
Dear Parents and School Advocates:
Ever since the Governor convened the special Legislative Session on July 28, 2006, parents, educators and taxpayers have been promised a new, more equitable education funding formula. More than a year later, little progress has been made, beyond generalized discussions and vague promises. While the Governor has committed to having a new formula law in place by December 2006, it is hard to accept that as a reality when no state level plan has yet been released, even for discussion. We need to stay vigilant on this issue.
School funding reform is in danger of being relegated to
Right now it is estimated that about three quarters of a million
In November every member of the Legislature is up for re-election. If we are serious about funding reform, we must call, write or e-mail our legislators and the legislative leadership now and tell them the following:
- Every
- That state aid to fund mandated programs for children with defined special needs must be adequate and that each child with such needs must receive the full amount of that funding—no matter where he or she resides
- The new formula must be funded by a sustainable revenue source
After November, our legislators will have much less incentive to create these very necessary changes. The time is now for school funding reform.
2. SAMPLE PARENT to LEGISLATOR/LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATE LETTER—
Date_____
Dear Legislator:
In December 2006 the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform issued its final report. The Committee concluded that "the development of a predictable, transparent school funding formula is essential for school districts to plan effectively and deliver the quality education that our citizens expect and our Constitution requires."
Making the new education funding formula a reality is priority number one for parents and property taxpayers alike. Rebates and competing issues will not erase this tantamount need for
- That every
- That state aid to fund mandated programs for children with defined special needs must be adequate and that each child with such needs must receive the full amount of that funding—no matter where he or she resides
- That an equitable, workable funding formula is in place for the 2007-2008 school year.
- That the new formula is funded by a sustainable revenue source
An estimated three-quarters of a million children do not even receive basic state support aid. Implementation of a new funding formula is the only way to bring about the real, sustainable property tax relief that voters in the majority of the State's under-funded, over-taxed communities have demanded.
We are watching and waiting.
Name_____________________________
Town/School Community______________
3. SUGGESTED LETTER –to-the-EDITOR re: SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA
To the Editor: Date _______
Ever since the Governor convened the special Legislative Session on July 28, 2006, parents, educators and taxpayers have been promised property tax relief in the form of a new, more equitable education funding formula. Ten months later, little progress has been made, beyond generalized discussions and vague promises.
School funding reform is in danger of being relegated to
Right now it is estimated that about three quarters of a million
For years overburdened local taxpayers have been forced to make up the difference when education aid has fallen short. The State has provided some property tax relief for the coming fiscal year, but the vast majority of communities will only receive long term relief when a new, more equitable funding formula becomes a reality.
It is critical to push for funding reform now, because every member of the Legislature is up for re-election in November. All will be acutely conscious of constituent voices. Parents and taxpayers who are serious about real property tax reduction and education funding reform must call, write or e-mail legislators and the legislative leadership now and tell them the following:
- Every
- That state aid to fund mandated programs for children with defined special needs must be adequate and that each child with such needs must receive the full amount of that funding as categorical aid —no matter where he or she resides
- The new formula must be funded by a sustainable revenue source
Parents and taxpayers are watching and waiting. The time is now for the school funding reform that will bring long term, sustainable tax relief while maintaining quality education.
Signed (Name) ______________________ Town/School community______________
“THREE QUESTIONS” ACCOMPANYING LETTER
Dear Parent:
On November 6, 2007, every member of the New Jersey Senate and Assembly will be up for election. This gives all of us who support public education a unique opportunity to use our most powerful tools—our votes—to help bring about the changes that will ensure educational quality for every child and real property tax relief for New Jersey residents.
The Garden Sate Coalition of Schools (GSCS) has a tradition of asking our elected leaders tough questions about education funding, then working with them to find practical, equitable and cost-effective answers to those questions. In that spirit, we support the following:
· Enactment of a comprehensive, equitable education funding formula that will be in place for the Fiscal Year 2008-2009;
· Development of provisions within the new education funding formula that maintain the State's commitment to categorical Special Education Aid, thereby ensuring that New Jersey's most vulnerable students receive appropriate educational support, regardless of where they live;*
· An end to divisive anti-education rhetoric and a new commitment from legislators of both parties to work with education advocates to find constructive solutions that affirm local control, maintain educational excellence and create real cost savings.
The legislature and the administration need to be impressed that the public wants a new formula now. A well-balanced funding method contributes to quality education and alleviates the property tax spiral at the local level. Your schools, your children and the GSCS need your help get New Jersey state candidates' full attention (for elective state office at the Assembly and Senate level) on the need to finally make a new formula a top priority in this year. And again, the opportunity to do this is right now, since all seats for these houses of state government are up for election this November.
Attached are three simple questions that parents should ask every legislative candidate, regardless of individual candidates' political affiliations. Please feel free to pass this letter and the questions on to friends and neighbors, and to consider individual candidates' answers when you make decisions about how you will vote in November.
And when you ask those questions, accept nothing less than unequivocal answers. This opportunity--to reach out to all Senate and Assembly candidates--only happens every six years, and we must make the most of it. Our children and our taxpayers don't have time to wait.
For further information on these issues and other advocacy efforts, please go to www.gscschools.org.
Thank you
*For further information on exactly how much Special Education Aid your district would lose if categorical Special Education Aid is eliminated, go to www.gscschools.org. On the left hand side of the home page, there is a tab labeled “Special Education Funding Issues.” Click on that tab, and when the next screen appears, click on “Estimated Loss of Special Education Categorical Funding Aid to Local Districts” You may wish to use that information to add the following specifics to the second candidate question: “In the case of my district _____________, we would lose $________, which would have to be made up by increasing local property taxes.”
5. THREE QUESTIONS FOR LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES
- Regular operating districts like (your school community) have not had the stability, funding, or predictability of formula implementation since FY02, and this has caused local property taxes to skyrocket. Will you commit to supporting an initiative to put a new, comprehensive school funding formula in place within the next year?
- Mandated Special Education costs are one of the biggest expenses for all districts. Will you support legislation that allows Special Education aid to remain categorical, rather than wrapped into a wealth-based formula that would endanger the most vulnerable students by leaving hundreds districts with virtually no, (or very limited), Special Education aid at all?
- Will you pledge to work actively and cooperatively with educators in your district to maintain local control while finding the most educationally sound and cost effective ways of providing quality education for our students?
