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
3-09 School Facilities Grant Program - Regular Operating Districts: Allocations & Analysis Round One
GSCS has been involved since the later 1990's in seeing that the regular operating districts, which are primarily suburban, receive a fair share in the school construction program. In fact, GSCS was widely recognized for its advocacy in getting the 40% grant program (and seeing that % maintained in the current program) established as the floor for grant funding for all districts. Below is the link to the latest round of Department of Education approval grants for regular operating districts release March 5, 2009. http://www.nj.gov/education/facilities/projectapplication/rod/Allocation1Analysis.pdf

NJDOE News

State of New Jersey
Office of the Governor

125 WEST STATE STREET
PO Box  001
Trenton NJ 08625-0001

CONTACT: Robert Corrales
PHONE: 609-777-2600

For Immediate Release: March 6, 2009


GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING FOR REGULAR OPERATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS

BAYONNE- On a tour of the Washington Community Elementary School, Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced that more than 130 New Jersey school districts are eligible to receive approximately $180 million for capital maintenance and construction projects under the first round of Schools Development Authority (SDA) regular operating district grant allocations.

“Today, we are delivering on our commitment to transform our schools into safe, healthy learning environments for our children,” said Governor Corzine. “We recognize that many non-Abbott districts are struggling with costs for construction, maintenance and repairs to make desperately needed improvements. Investing in these types of projects will help stimulate the economy and create job opportunities during this critical time.”

Bayonne is scheduled to receive approximately $5.95 million in state funds for upgrades and repairs at ten schools totaling $10.6 million.  The Washington Community Elementary School will receive $839,873 in state funds to undertake a $1.5 million repair project. Overall, 133 districts applied for funds for 400 projects. Total estimated cost of the projects to be funded in this first round is $447,182,565.

“School construction is a vital need statewide and affects all of our children.  The funding opportunities announced today will both benefit future generations of New Jersey students and create much-needed jobs to stimulate the economy in these unprecedented times,” said Kris Kolluri, the Schools Development Authority’s CEO.

Last July, Governor Corzine signed legislation authorizing an additional $3.9 billion for the schools construction program.  Of that funding, $1 billion was made available for the state share of funding for projects in non-Abbott districts.

The Department of Education (DOE) established processes for district applications, project evaluations and prioritization and aid eligibility.  The grant awards announced today represent the first of multiple rounds of funding opportunities.

Projects eligible to be funded by the first round grants range from the replacement of a middle school destroyed by fire in East Brunswick ($4.2 million state share) and major renovations at Clayton High School ($6.4 million state share) and Henry P. Becton Regional High School in Carlstadt-East Rutherford ($11 million state share) to the replacement of windows at Milford Elementary School in Hunterdon County ($7,840 state share).
 
Commissioner of Education Lucille E. Davy noted that it is much more difficult for children to succeed academically when they are being taught in an overcrowded building or in a building in need of repair.  “It is difficult for children to learn in an old school with crumbling plaster, broken lights, sagging ceilings or inadequate bathrooms,” the Commissioner said.   

A report on the first round allocations – including the districts, their approved projects and the funds they can expect to receive, along with descriptions of the DOE application and evaluation processes and a county-by-county analysis of the grant distribution can be found on the School Facilities page of the Department of Education website at http://www.nj.gov/education/facilities/projectapplication/rod/Allocation1Analysis.pdf