Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     5-1-12 REVISED GRADUATION RATES per County-District, AS RELEASED 120501
     5-1-12 Department of Education Release explains policy rationals for new rate methodology, federal requirements for revision of gradnuation rates
     4-11,12-12 p.m - Governor's Press Release re Priority, Focus and Rewards Schools Final list...PolitickerNJ and NJ Spotlight articles
     November Elections for Schools - Department of Education FAQ's
     List of PRIORITY, FOCUS and REWARDS SCHOOLS per DOE Application on ESEA (NCLB) Waiver
     Education Transformation Task Force Initial Report...45 recommendations for starters
     7-14-11 DOE Guidance on Local Options for using Additional State School Aid in FY'12 State Budget.PDF
     7-14-11 State GUIDANCE re: Using Additional State Aid as Property Tax Relief in this FY'12 Budget year.PDF
     FY'12 State School Aid District-by-District Listing, per Appropriations Act, released 110711
     7-12-11 pm District by District Listing of State Aid for FY'12 - Guidelines to be released later this week (xls)
     Democrat Budget Proposal per S4000, for Fiscal Year 2011-2012
     Additional School Aid [if the school funding formula,SFRA, were fully funded for all districts] per Millionaires' Tax bill S2969
     4-29-11 BOOMERANG! Near 80 per cent of School Budgets Passed in Wednesday'sSchool Elections
     4-7-11 Gov. Christie - 'Addressing New Jersey's Most Pressing Education Challenges'
     GSCS - Local District Listing : Local Funds Transferred to Charter Schools 2001-2010
     GSCS Bar Chart: Statewide Special Education cost percent compared to Regular & Other Instructional cost percent 2004-2011
     Link to Teacher Evaluation Task Force Report
     1-24-11 GSCSS Testimony before Assembly Education Committee: Charter School Reform
     1-13-11 Supreme Court Appoints Special Master for remand Hearing
     7-21-10 List of bills in Governor's 'Toolkit'
     Office on Legislative Services Analysis of Department of Educaiton - State Budget for FY'11
     4-21-10 DOE posts election results
     4-15-10 Education Week - Education Secretary recommends federal funds to 'preserve' education jobs
     3-23-10 GSCS Testimony presented to Senate Budget Committee on State Budget FY'11
     GSCS - Formula Aid Loss and Percent Loss by District - Statewide
     GSCS - Formula Aid Loss under 50%, by County
     GSCS - Formula Aid Loss of 50% or more, by County
     State Aid 2010 Reserve Calculation and Appeal Procedures
     School Aid Withheld Spreadsheet
     1-13-10 Christie's New Commissioner of Education to be announced today - 12:30 Statehouse Press Conference
     1-13-10 New Commissioner of Education to be announced today - 12:30 Statehouse Press Conference
     STATE BOARD of EDUCATION 2009-2010 MEETINGS SCHEDULE
     10-2-09 News of Note
     10-1-09 Education Week on Acheivement Gap narrowing; Algebra Testing
     ARRA funding guidelines& NJ accountability summary - links from Federal Government
     August 2009 Information on Federal Stimulus funding supporting school districts Fiscal Year 2009-2010
     7-22-09 'State gives extra aid for schools an extraordinary boost'
     7-16-08 Schools Testing measures adopted; Test scoring upgraded - harder to pass
     6-26-09 Executive Director to GSCS Trustees; Wrap Up Report - State Budget and Assembly bills this week
     6-18-09 NJ toughens high school graduation requirements
     6-10-09 Education Week on Abbott Decision
     6-9-09 COMMENTARY on Supreme Court Abbott school funding decisio
     5-09 GSCS ASKS - Education funding questions- school districts need answers
     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
     4-23-09 The public shows its support for public education in passing nearly 75% of school budgets statewide
     4-22-09 Statewide County by County Results FY0910 School Budget Elections
     4-22-09 Statewide District by District Results FY0910 School Budget Elections
     4-22-09 Department of Education releases recap of school budget vote, 73.5 passage rate
     4-21-09 Today is School Board Election Day - Remember to Vote
     090416 DOE RELEASE - Fed'l StimulusTITLE 1 ALLOCATIONS
     090416 DOE RELEASE - Fed'l Stimulus IDEA ALLOCATIONS
     3-25-09 Judge Doyne makes recommendation to Supreme Court on Abbott v School Funding Reform Act
     3-26 & 27-09 Abbott recommendation back to Supreme Court: - editorials & articles
     3-09 School Facilities Grant Program - Regular Operating Districts: Allocations & Analysis Round One
     Title 1 funding charts - Same as immediately below, but in PDF form: Latest Title 1 'preliminary' funding under the ARRA 3-09
     2-23-09 'There's no formula for fairness in school aid case'
     NJ District listing, Title One & IDEA under federal stimulus law
     11-25-08 Perspective piece criticizes recent Supreme Court Abbott decision
     9-24-08 Supreme Court hearing on constitutionality of School Funding Reform Act
     SAVE THE DATE - OCT. 7TH
     NJ League of Municipalities & NJ Dept of Education Education Forum Invitation
     6-4-08 Education Week Releases 'Diplomas Count' report & data
     Estimated 2008-2009 State Aid by County & District
     Annual School Budget Election Results by County Percentage of Budgets Approved, 1994-2007
     Compares Total Per Pupil State Aid (minus adjustments) under new formula - '06'07 to '08'09
     11-20-07 RELEASE OF NEW SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA LIKELY TO BE DELAYED UNTIL AFTER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
     11-13-07 Speaker Roberts & Assembly Democrats Affordable Housing Proposal
     GSCS School Funding Paper 'Funding NJ's Schools...Finding a Workable Solution' distributed 10-22-07 at Press Conf in Trenton
     UPDATED - Possible Spec. Educ. Aid Loss to districts (based on current aid per current, yet outdated by 6 years, CEIFA distribution) if state chooses to 'wealth-equalize' this aid in a future formula
     10-23-07 NJSBA write up on GSCS Press Conf. re 'Funding NJ Schools...Finding a Workable Solution'
     GSCS School Funding Paper distributed 10-22-07 at Press Conf in Trenton
     10-23 Media reports & Trenton responses to date re GSCS Press Conf
     Spec. Educ. Aid Loss to districts (based on current aid per current, yet outdated by 6 years, CEIFA distribution) if state chooses to 'wealth-equalize' this aid in a future formula
     9-20-07 New Jersey School Boards Assoc. Releases its Report on Special Education
     Background Paper: Public School Funding in Massachusetts 7-07
     7-31-07 EMAILNET Status of School Funding Formula, more
     Tax Foundation 'Background Paper' Appropriation by Litigation
     8-7-07 'State rebuilds school construction program'
     7-26-07 Council on Local Mandates reverses DOE spec ed regulation
     7-26-07 Education Law Center on school funding reform via is subgroup report
     Excel Spreadsheet on New DFG's based on 2000 census
     STATEWIDE DATA and more: Charts, Reports
     Important School Funding Data Reports
     5-21-07 In Connecticut '2 School Aid Plans Have a Similar Theme'
     APRIL '07 MOODY's OUTLOOK ON SCHOOLS -NEGATIVE
     3-26-07 Education Week 'Quality Counts 2006' on NJ School Policy
     3-25-07 New York Times on NJ Comparative Spending Guide, more on Gov putting off signing A1, Tax Caps & Rebate bill
     2-27-07 Department of Education Power Point on State Aid for FY07-08 compared to FY 06-07
     2-14-07 GSCS letter to Gov Corzine & Commr of Education Davy - Request for State Aid FY0708
     2-7-07 Department of Education Releases 2006 School Report Cards
     2-7-07 School funding, school audits - need for new formula underscored
     Scheduled for Monday 1-22-07& website to study on cost to local taxpayers when school funding formula ingored by state
     11-15-06 The Special Session Jt Committee Reports
     11-11-06 'GSCS is working hard on the behalf of hundreds of school communities across the state'
     11-10-06 NJ education chief vows urban support
     11-6-06 The need for special education funding to stay as a 'categorical' aid based on each students disability is real
     Nov 2006 Special Aid loss to districts if aid were based on current ability-to-pay formula
     10-21-06 Education Data Study Released - how the news is being reported
     10-30-06 NY Times
     9-5-06 GSCS Testimony on cost saving meaures in Trenton
     Some Abbott funding history see May 27 1998 - Education Week article on Abbott V court decision
     School Budget Elections 2006 Summary Data
     6-12-06 EMAILNET - Extraordinary Special Education student aid; FY07 Budget 'crunch' is on; news clips
     Assembly Speaker Roberts proposes 'CORE' plan for schools & towns
     GSCS Charts show pressure on school funding
     FUNDING HISTORY- some articles
     3-28-06 State Budget FY07 - GSCS testimony before Assembly Budget Comm
     Funding Coalition submits paper 'Beginning Discussions on School Funding Reform'
     Governor Corzine takes steps towards major policy initiatives.
     3-28-06 NY Times re Texas school finance case
     3-24-06 EMAILNET FYI Update on Gov Corzine's Budget FY07
     3-23-06 EMAILNET Corzine says some Abbotts can raise taxes
     3-24-06 Schools learn who wins, loses in Corzine budget
     2-10-06 Star Ledger editorial re void of credible & useful data at Department of Education
     Dept Ed Directive 7-6-05: School Construction Sec 15 Grant Funding for more than 450 districts questionable
     EMAILNET 2-1-06 GSCS Advocacy FY07 Budget; On the Homepage Today
     2003 GSCS letter to legislators
     1-26-06 New York Times article re public schools fundraising for private support
     1-25-06 Star Ledger 'School District's Woes Point to Rising Tax Resistance'
     GSCS Testimony 2003 on Suggestions for School Funding - issues similar to 2005-6
     1-19-06 EMAILNET Quick Facts, On the Homepage Today
     EMAILNET 1-5-06 quick facts & State Board school funding Legal Committee decision
     Philadelphia Inquirer 6-16-05 Commissioner Librera Release Abbott Designation Report
     December 2005 Harvard Famiily Research Project Links
     Education Week article May 1998 Re Abbott Ruling 'High Court Ends School Funding Issues May 1998
     Standard & Poors Release Achievement Gap Study 8-23-05
     10-5-05 PRESS BRIEFING ON SCHOOL AID & FUNDING SPONSORED by Ad Hoc School Finance Discussion Group, GSCS is participant...10-6-05 ASbury Park Press (Gannett) & Press of Atlantic City articles
     Statehouse Press Briefing October 5, 2005 Notes & Handouts - Update on NJ School Finance
     Debt Service v State Share 0 to 40 Districts Before and After S200
     How State Figures Sending Districts' Per Pupil Cost
     GSCS School Funding and S1701 Power Point - February 2005
     DOE Announces NCLB-Designated Districts In Need of Improvement
     Rutgers-Eagleton Insitute analysis of property taxes-education funding issues
     Designation of Abbott Districts Criteria and Process
     NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts
     Standard & Poors National and State and School Data and Analyses
     Standard & Poors Releases Achievement Gap Study 8-23-05
1-24-11 GSCSS Testimony before Assembly Education Committee: Charter School Reform
To read testimony, click here on

Garden State Coalition of Schools/GSCS
Assembly Education Hearing on Charter School Reform
January 24, 2011
Thank you Chairman Diegnan and members of the Committee. I am Lynne Strickland the Executive Director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools; with me is Elisabeth Ginsburg, Vice President on the GSCS Board and President of the Board of Education of the Glen Ridge schools. Betsy is available to answer questions about Glen Ridge’s research into the potential for one school or an entire district conversion to charter school status.

Today the Garden State Coalition represents 100 districts throughout the state, from Bergen to Camden County. Approximately 300,000 students are represented via theirs schools’ membership in our association.GSCS is appreciative of the Committee’s invitation to join in the conversation with you today on charter school reform.

Our members, primarily suburban, have had growing concerns about charter schools and these concerns have been brought to our board with a growing voice this year.

Recently GSCS endorsed a letter of the Princeton Board of Education and forwarded it to our members for their action (letter is attached to our testimony packet here). “We urge you to pay close attention to the issues surrounding charter school legislation. New Jersey residents hold high expectations for their public schools, invest in education at high rates and are proud of New Jersey’s strong record of excellence in public education. Nonetheless, we recognize that there are examples of failure and that there are great needs which must be addressed. Please take time to learn from other states’ successes and from their failures...While developing policy and legislation, please pay attention to the research. As we eagerly stand accountable for providing the best and most cost effective education possible for ALL children, we implore you to protect what is sound and serving children well as you move forward with legislation that insures equity and excellence for all New Jersey students.”

Charter School Issues – Some problems that need to be addressed in any new legislation;

Establish criteria for proof of educational need of charter schools in each community.
 
In the midst of a recession we cannot afford to divert funds from successful programs in order to fund schools designed for small populations with special wants. Needs and wants are very different bases for the investment of public dollars.

We need to identify the rationale for charters more directly and define for clarity, priority and consensus. What are the ‘needs’?  Certainly the common denominator must be educational performance. What are ‘wants’ and are they appropriate to pursue, especially at this time of great fiscal constraints, as well as when in initial stages of reform overhaul? Community divisiveness should be avoided, not exacerbated, as we are seeing right now in the suburban districts such as East Brunswick, and Princeton; communities where applications are on file should not be surprised as we are also hearing of, such as Highland Park. It bears repeating, we need to identify the rationale for charters more directly and define for clarity, priority and consensus.

Local taxpayers must have a say in charter school funding via a local vote.
 Since 2002, the total funds that local districts transfer to support charter schools has grown from approximately $85M to $316M (see attached).  Given the economies of scale for one, funding does stress regular operating district budgets.

GSCS members, and the majority of regular operating districts in New Jersey fund the majority of their school budgets via local property taxes.

The sums of local budget revenue that is required to be transferred to the local charter schools wind up costing local property taxpayers more (economies of scale, e.g.) yet neither the taxpayers, nor the local school board, have a say in the charter school budgets.

The more the funding depends on local taxpayers, the more the community is pitted against itself. It is important that ‘fairness for all’ interested community members is felt.

Currently ‘economic impact’ must be considered in the authorization process, but how – and by whom - is this currently defined; how might it be better defined in the future?

The ‘how-to’ of charter school funding is ‘messy’ right now and has to be addressed.
 
Today, there are two competing definitions of charter school funding in current law. The Charter School Law has one definition of how charters are funded, and the school funding formula another (see attached). This conflict must be clarified, addressed, debated for future workability of charter school funding support. Only one definition can serve the purpose and enlighten the debate around charter school funding.  Under SFRA, see 18A:36A-12; under Charter School law, see L.1995,c.426,s.12; amended 2000,c.142,s.2.
 
Ad hoc interpretations and discussion thus evolve that waste time and promote misunderstanding. Again, clarity and consensus for how charter schools are funded requires not only an open discussion but one where policymakers have clear, reliable information on which to make the sound decisions for all students and communities alike.

Any discussion about revenue sources and funding for charter schools must to be in the context of school funding as a whole.

There are so many needs pressing New Jersey’s public education funding system these days. Variables and uncertainty impact the school funding picture as a whole. One need cannot be carved out of the frame and addressed without impacting another need. Just consider the state aid reduction last year, and then try deciding how to increase funds to one good need at the cost of another critical need? Or shall we wait for the Supreme Court to set the direction first?

Districts should have a ‘saturation point’ (a ceiling) where the number of charter schools is curbed.

For example, such a curb could occur where a district’s regular operating budget cannot be reduced by a maximum of (x) % due to charter school annual funding transfers; or alternatively, e.g., where enrollment shifts are not consistent with projected enrollment growth in the regular public school or enrollments reach a ‘tipping point’  that will destabilize the regular operating district’s programs.

Common sense balance must be maintained between the regular operating district and charter school in certain circumstances.

East Brunswick unfortunately has a good example of this: full day kindergarten has been on the East Brunswick budget vote more than once and the voters have not passed that initiative; yet the new Hatikvah Charter School has full day kindergarten and in fact advertised the full day program in local supermarkets when soliciting applicants prior to increase its chances for approval.

Charters that are ‘focused’ and/or limited in purpose that target narrow interests can have the potential to open up resegregation of public schools.
Resegregation is a clear negative and its potential for harm must be protected against.
The final say on charter authorization should rest with the Department of Education.

By its very nature, the Department of Education must have the responsibility of authorizer oversight.

Accountability must be improved at the charter school and traditional school level; the authorizer must have appropriate requirements that include (not necessarily limited to) student performance, teacher evaluation, accounting and business office procedures, that are reflective of the traditional school requirements.

d.Performance contracts deserve consideration in this regard.

Autonomy and accountability can be balanced to protect the student performance, district demographics and adhere to standards of efficiency and effectiveness.
__________________________________________________________________________________
 

ATTACHMENTS: Competing charter school funding laws; Princeton Board of Education letter on charters, Glen Ridge release re: Research into district conversion to Charter Status; Chart on Local District Fund Transfers to Charter Schools 2001-2002 to 2010-2011

I.                     CURRENT CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING
 
The current language is at 18A:36A-12...
18A:36A-12  Per pupil payments to charter schools.
 
 12. a. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2007, c.260).
 b. The school district of residence shall pay directly to the charter school for each student enrolled in the charter school who resides in the district an amount equal to 90% of the sum of the budget year equalization aid per pupil and the prebudget year general fund tax levy per pupil inflated by the CPI rate most recent to the calculation.  In addition, the school district of residence shall pay directly to the charter school the security categorical aid attributable to the student and a percentage of the district's special education categorical aid equal to the percentage of the district's special education students enrolled in the charter school and, if applicable, 100% of preschool education aid.  The district of residence shall also pay directly to the charter school any federal funds attributable to the student.
 
 c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2007, c.260).
 
 d. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of this section, in the case of a student who was not included in the district's projected resident enrollment for the school year, the State shall pay 100% of the amount required pursuant to subsection b. of this section for the first year of the student's enrollment in the charter school.
 
 e. The State shall make payments required pursuant to subsection d. of this section directly to the charter school.
 
 
II.                    DOE WEBSITE (Charter School Law) L.1995,c.426,s.12; amended 2000,c.142,s.2.
 
 
a.        As used in this section:
 
"Maximum T&E amount" means the T&E amount plus the T&E flexible amount for the budget year weighted for kindergarten, elementary, middle school and high school respectively as set forth in section 12 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-12);
 
"Program budget" means the sum in the prebudget year inflated by the CPI rate published most recent to the budget calculation of core curriculum standards aid; supplemental core curriculum standards aid; stabilization aid, including supplemental stabilization aid and supplemental school tax reduction aid; designated general fund balance; miscellaneous local general fund revenue; and the district's general fund tax levy.
b.        The school district of residence shall pay directly to the charter school for each student enrolled in the charter school who resides in the district an amount equal to the lower of either 90% of the program budget per pupil for the specific grade level in the district or 90% of the maximum T&E amount. The per pupil amount paid to the charter school shall not exceed the program budget per pupil for the specific grade level in the district in which the charter school is located. The district of residence shall also pay directly to the charter school any categorical aid attributable to the student, provided the student is receiving appropriate categorical services, and any federal funds attributable to the student.
 
c.        For any student enrolled in a charter school in which 90% of the program budget per pupil for the specific grade level is greater than 90% of the maximum T&E amount, the State shall pay the difference between the two amounts.
 
d.        Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of this section, in the case of a student who was not included in the district's projected resident enrollment for the school year, the State shall pay 100% of the amount required pursuant to subsection b. of this section for the first year of the student's enrollment in the charter school.
 
e.        The State shall make payments required pursuant to subsections c. and d. of this section directly to the charter school.
 
L.1995,c.426,s.12; amended 2000,c.142,s.2.
 

_____________________________________________________________________________
Princeton Board of Education Charter letter: December 2010
To Our Governor, Acting Commissioner of Education and State Legislators:

We urge you to pay close attention to the issues surrounding charter school legislation. New Jersey residents hold high expectations for their public schools, invest in education at high rates and are proud of New Jersey’s strong record of excellence in public education. Nonetheless, we recognize that there are examples of failure and that there are great needs which must be addressed.
Please take time to learn from other states’ successes and from their failures. In many states, there has not been educational or fiscal accountability on the part of charter schools. Charters’ success rates are mixed and millions of dollars have been poorly invested in some charter schools. While developing policy and legislation, please examine reliable research. A 2010 federal study by Mathematica demonstrated minimal or negative impact of charter schools on the performance of higher income and higher achieving students.

We eagerly stand accountable for providing the best and most cost effective education possible for ALL children, and implore you to protect what is sound and serving children well in New Jersey. As you move forward with legislation that insures equity and excellence for all of our students we specifically request the following:

·         Establish criteria for proof of educational need of charter schools in each community. In the midst of a recession we cannot afford to divert funds from successful programs in order to fund “boutique” schools designed for small and segregated populations with special wants. Needs and wants are very different bases for the investment of public dollars.
·         Use taxpayer dollars wisely and respect taxpayers’ needs and opinions. Taxpayers should vote on approval of their tax dollars being directed to new charters or expansion of current charters. Additionally, taxpayers should vote for members of the charter schools’ boards just as they elect representatives to traditional school boards. THERE SHOULD BE NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
·         Hold charters to high standards for educational outcomes by collecting performance data that demonstrates their students are out-performing comparable cohorts in traditional schools.
·         Assure the public that all legislation created to insure accountability and oversight of traditional public school districts will also apply to all charters.
·         Do not approve for-profit charter school systems since they are profiting from public funding.
·         Do not sub-contract to other institutions the authority to approve charter applications since it minimizes the State Department of Education’s role, subjugates taxpayer authority and increases costs.
·         Monitor enrollments closely so that we do not further segregate our beautifully diverse and enriching population. One of the backbones of public education is preparing a diverse population of students to together become the understanding, creative and talented thinkers and leaders of the 21st century.
Much is at stake. We ask that as leaders of our fine state you listen and study closely so that wise and balanced decisions are made regarding the education of ALL of our children and the investments of all of our taxpayers.

Sincerely,
The Princeton Regional Board of Education

GLEN RIDGE BOARD OF EDUCATION HOLDS DISCUSSION ON CHARTER SCHOOLS
Local Board Exploring Options for Increased Financial Sustainability and Educational Quality in the Wake of State Aid Loss
                On Monday, July 26, 2010, the Glen Ridge Board of Education used its annual Board Retreat to discuss charter schools and whether the possibility of converting one school or the entire district to charter status would benefit Glen Ridge students and taxpayers.  Discussion participants included Donna Best, Colleen Eskow and Jacqueline Grama, all of the New Jersey Department of Education’s Office of Charter Schools.   
The Retreat topic grew out of discussions between the Board and Glen Ridge residents during budget presentations in the spring of 2010.  With the loss of 100% of the district’s state aid, many residents suggested that the Board investigate options including chartering, privatization and any other measures that would reduce costs to taxpayers, retain local control of the schools and increase educational quality.
                The Retreat took the form of a question and answer session between Board members and the DOE employees.  The following conclusions emerged:
·         Charter schools, which are public schools, are bound by most of the same laws and regulations as “regular” public schools.  They are required to satisfy most of the same state testing and accountability mandates. 
·         Charter schools are governed by their own boards, which are not connected with or responsible to the local Board of Education. 
·         In the case of Glen Ridge, a Board of Education would be necessary, even if the district were converted to charter status.  The Board would have to arrange for the education of any district students not attending the charter school as well as serving as a funding conduit for the charter school.  The charter district’s budget would come either entirely or almost entirely from the local tax levy (depending on the availability of state aid funds) and would amount to 90% of the adequacy budget (determined by the state) for Glen Ridge.  This means that if the district converted to charter status, the charter district would have less money than the current Glen Ridge Public School District.  Charter schools are allowed to raise funds privately and seek grant funding, but cannot include that funding in their charter school applications.
·         Converting an existing district or a single school within the district to charter status would require approval by 51% of the parents and 51% of the faculty, in addition to approval by the DOE.
·         Charter schools/districts do not have to have unionized employees, but many opt to do so.
                In the fall, the Board will devote a portion of a public Board meeting to further discussion of these issues, with time allotted for questions from the public.  Details about this meeting will be provided when a date has been established.  Please forward questions or comments to the Board at eginsburg@glenridge.org.  Further information on charter schools can also be found at The New Jersey Department of Education’s website: http://www.state.nj.us/education/chartsch/