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
11-13-07 Speaker Roberts & Assembly Democrats Affordable Housing Proposal
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              Assembly Majority Office:

 

Affordable Housing Reform Plan

 

This memorandum outlines proposals that will lead to the creation of greater affordable housing opportunities in New Jersey.  The policy alternatives were identified after a review of housing policies in other states, discussions with other legislators and input from the following stakeholders: 1) the Housing and Community Development Network; 2) Community Investment Strategies; 3) the Coalition for Affordable Housing and the Environment; 4) the Fair Share Housing Center; 5) Homes for New Jersey; 6) the Apartment Association; 7) the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties; 8) the New Jersey League of Municipalities; 9) the New Jersey Manufactured Housing Association; and 10) the Department of Community Affairs.    

 

  •  Eliminate Regional Contribution Agreements 

 

RCAs – which the State sanctions – allow affluent municipalities to sell off half of their affordable housing obligation to cash-strapped urban communities.  A wealthy “sending” town in an RCA arrangement pays another town to assume its low- and middle-income housing and the urban “receiving” communities take the money because they need it.  The negative consequences of RCA arrangements are obvious.  By allowing a municipality to cut its affordable-housing obligation in half, RCAs make it challenging and sometimes impossible for working New Jerseyans with modest incomes to live in the suburban communities where they work.  RCAs also lead to concentrated poverty.

 

RCAs are bad public policy and should be eliminated.  But they should not be abolished in a vacuum.  Municipalities currently relying on RCA funds from “sending” communities will need to make up for the lost revenue.  The State has an obligation to provide this substitute funding and to work with mayors and affordable housing advocates to make this a reality.

 

  • Require State development projects to include 20% affordable units 

 

Establish a 20% affordable housing set aside for all State-assisted development projects, including projects in Smart Growth Areas and Transit Villages. The State also should direct all State agencies with land-use authority (e.g., Pinelands Commission, Meadowlands Commission, Highlands Council, and Sports and Exposition Authority) to incorporate mixed-income housing development requirements into their master plans, redevelopment plans, and development regulations.

 

 

 

  • Create an “Affordable Housing Trust Fund”

 

New Jersey should create its own single, centralized trust fund for affordable housing.  Although the realty transfer fee is the most popular source for state housing trust funds, many other revenue streams are also dedicated for this purpose nationally.  These include interest from real estate or title escrow accounts (Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington, Wisconsin); lottery earnings (Kentucky, Oregon); document recording fees (Delaware, Missouri, Ohio); interest from tenant security deposits (Oregon); interest from unclaimed property (Arizona); bond and fee revenues (Kansas, Nevada, New Hampshire); capital budget funds (Washington); and the state income tax (Louisiana, Massachusetts).  Nine state housing funds receive revenue from more than one source.

 

In order to increase funding, the State could combine dedicated realty transfer fee revenue with an additional source or sources of funding.  The new trust fund would be the repository of the State’s housing related revenues.

  • Allow private developers of inclusionary development projects to compete for Federal Low-Income Tax Credits 

Current Housing and Mortgage Financing Agency (HMFA) regulations prohibit inclusionary development projects (those that include both market rate and affordable units) from competing for Federal Low Income Tax Credits.  Because inclusionary development projects are the State’s primary method of constructing affordable housing, this restriction is an impediment to the production of affordable units. 

To increase affordable housing production, we need to make Federal Low Income Tax Credits available to private developers of inclusionary development projects.  Because this funding is very limited, however, eligibility should be restricted to private development projects that (1) exceed their maximum affordable obligations or (2) go beyond the Council on Affordable Housing’s (COAH) affordability requirements (i.e., are priced to be affordable to low- or very-low income families).

  • Increase the maximum income that an individual may earn and still qualify for affordable housing and set aside affordable units for very-low-income residents

A-4385 (Watson Coleman) would permit “middle income” families (those making 80% to 110% of a region’s median income level) to qualify for affordable housing.  For a family of four, maximum income limits would be increased from a State average of approximately $63,000 to an average of approximately $87,000.  A-4385 was introduced on June 14, 2007 and referred to AHO.  At the same time, however, we must be careful not to divert existing resources from low- and moderate-income families.  While we can no longer continue to overlook the needs of “middle income” families, we must not do it at the expense of lower income families.

In addition, A-1343 (Watson Coleman) would promote the production of affordable housing for very-low-income families (those earning less than 30% of median income, or roughly $19,000 annually) by requiring all State housing programs to set aside 25% of affordable units for very-low-income residents.  A-1343 passed out of AHO on May 10, 2007 by a vote of 4-1-1.

 

  • Ensure new school funding formula accounts for municipalities that accept low- and moderate-income families with school age children

 

The new school funding formula should provide enhanced funding to school districts located in municipalities that provide affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families with school-age children.  Too many municipalities attempt to meet their affordable obligations without providing housing for young families because of the cost of educating additional students (e.g., by constructing age restricted housing or by participating in RCA agreements).  Increasing the funding available to schools with low- and moderate- income students will provide an incentive for municipalities to provide this much needed housing.  

 

  • Require one-for-one replacement of affordable housing units lost through redevelopment 

 

In addition to constructing new affordable units, New Jersey needs to preserve the affordable housing stock that we already have.  Eminent domain and redevelopment reform should require one-for-one replacement of all affordable units lost through redevelopment.

 

  •  Require towns to spend municipal housing trust fund dollars on affordable housing within their borders

 

In New Jersey, COAH-certified municipalities maintain their own municipal housing trust funds, which are funded by development fees, payments in-lieu of construction fees and (in some cases) revenue generated from RCAs.  The revenue generated by these funds must be used for affordable-housing purposes.  It is estimated that these trust funds have accumulated over $150 million dollars in surplus revenue because municipalities refuse to accept affordable-housing development projects or because they are stockpiling revenue to fund future RCAs. 

 

Eliminating RCAs would go a long way toward correcting this problem.  As an added safeguard, the State could require towns to either (1) spend money deposited into their local trust funds within three years of receiving it; (2) provide a detailed plan of how this money will be spent; or (3) turn the money over to the State to be deposited into the Balanced Housing Fund.  This would ensure that money dedicated for affordable housing is used for that purpose.  

 

  • Require COAH to mandate that municipalities provide density bonuses to developers constructing inclusionary developments

 

The Mount Laurel doctrine requires municipalities to create realistic opportunities for the construction of affordable housing.  Third-round rules, however, actually discourage such construction by allowing municipalities to order developers to build affordable units without providing any offsetting benefit as incentive.  This not only impedes construction of affordable housing, but it also increases the cost of market-rate housing because developers are forced to raise prices in order compensate for the revenue lost to deed-restricted units.

 

The Legislature should require COAH to mandate that municipal land use ordinances provide offsetting density bonuses to stimulate production of low- and moderate-income housing. 

 

 

 

  • Require COAH to account for existing affordable-housing units when allocating a town’s fair share

 

COAH’s third-round “growth share” formula assigns every municipality an identical obligation based upon the amount of growth a town experiences, regardless of a town’s existing affordable housing stock.  To ensure that urban and inner-ring municipalities do not continue to house disproportionate shares of the State’s low-income families, the Legislature should require COAH to account for a town’s existing affordable housing stock when calculating that town’s obligation (this process is referred to as “reallocated present need” and was an integral component of COAH’s first and second round methodologies).  Please note that the recent appellate court opinion upheld the third-round’s elimination of reallocated present need, although the court did concede that this was a close call.

  • Create “Comprehensive Housing Plan”

New Jersey’s housing problem is complex, systemic and long-standing.  It is therefore necessary for the State to ensure that affordable housing remains a top priority for future administrations and legislatures.  The Legislature should make permanent Commissioner Doria’s housing task force comprised of a diverse body of government officials, as well as public and private stakeholders.  The Housing Task Force would be charged with developing a “comprehensive statewide housing plan” and submitting annual reports to the Legislature over a 10-year period.  These annual reports should evaluate progress toward achieving the State’s affordable housing goals and recommend aggressive remedial strategies where necessary.  This comprehensive housing plan would focus on coordinating existing housing services and targeting resources to priority populations. 

 

This proposal is based on Illinois legislation enacted into law in 2006 and is strongly supported by the Housing and Community Development Network.  New York City also recently developed a comprehensive affordable housing plan aimed at realizing its goal of developing 165,000 units in 10 years.  Since implementing the plan three years ago, the city has produced 75,000 units. 

 

  • Require regular publication of affordable housing statistics

Although the Fair Housing Act contemplates DCA issuing an annual report documenting affordable housing construction, this report has not been made available since 2003.  The Legislature should require DCA to make available this year’s report.  The Legislature also should require COAH and HMFA to report on the affordable housing they have financed.