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
3-28-06 State Budget FY07 - GSCS testimony before Assembly Budget Comm
On State Budget for Fiscal Year 2007

Garden State Coalition of Schools/GSCS

Testimony before the Assembly Budget & Appropriations Committees

March 28, 2006

 

Overview

Public support for public education in New Jersey inextricably links to property taxes and school funding – one cannot be realistically addressed without recognizing the needs of the other. The year 2006 finds New Jersey at a critical jointure in the school funding debate: the CEIFA school funding formula has not been implemented since FY2002, nor to date have enrollments been counted in what aid has been distributed per the old CEIFA.  It is common knowledge that where state aid per pupil falls, property taxes will rise. In New Jersey, more than 45% of the regular operating districts are now considered too wealthy to receive basic state support aid; in California only 60 districts of 1000 school districts fall into this ‘too wealthy’ category.

 

To keep New Jersey at the high level of student performance that is nationally recognized while detouring from the high property tax burden, GSCS believes that the state – both Legislature and Executive branch - need to play an immediate and pro-active role to:

  1. develop and implement a new public school funding formula ; one that is unified, fair and responsive to student and community needs;

 

  1. revisit the rationale for property tax support of schools, seeking ways to offer relief to local taxpayers, while being wary not to destabilize the constancy of revenue support that property taxes best provide; the legislature should tackle this conundrum now.

 

  1. make gathering of accurate, up-to-date, transparent, complete school finance and district data a number one priority. Current data is out of date in many instances and incomplete – it is too often not possible to make quality decisions based on what is ‘out there’. It is acknowledged that there are two systems of funding New Jersey’s schools. In order to get a fair picture of policies and how they impact schools, it is necessary to disaggregate Abbott data from regular operating district data.

 

  1. seek legislative action in the areas that can improve efficiency; base legislation on factual evidence and fiscal notes before moving it ahead. For example, on-going conversation about regionalization being an effective and efficient avenue to improve cost and delivery of education falls flat when existing tax laws are an immediate disincentive to districts’ seeking to combine; it is also known that the combining of districts will impose higher salaries on the district[s] salary guide that is/are not the highest in the potential regional district….Move mandate relief legislation to the Governor for signature.

 

  1. address cost drivers of school budgets are beyond local district control but are within the state’s purview to varying degrees: health benefits, utility costs; pensions; insurances to name a few – state action in these areas is required if substantial change is to occur to stabilize the cost of education in New Jersey.

 

Governor Corzine’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 07: Some Positives

 

  • Above Average Enrollment Growth Aid

The proposed budget breaks new – and helpful - ground in that it provides enrollment growth aid up front. Districts can make practical plans for programs within their budget process; while this type of aid has been forthcoming via the Appropriations Act in the past few years it is only a known at the end of June, after property taxes have already had to be raised to support enrollment growth.

  • Special Education Grant Funding

GSCS has long argued that required special education programs require additional state funding to support our most vulnerable children, and to reduce pressure on regular education programs. By including grant funding for programs for autistic children and for special education programs in general, the Governor acknowledges the import of state support in this regard as well as endorsing districts to take a lead in providing and combining in district special education programs.

  • Commitment to developing a new school funding formula

The Governor recognize that it is time to address the inequities that exist in the school funding system and intends to work with the Legislature and stakeholders to develop a new school funding formula.(Budget in Brief, p. 26)

  • Abbotts are asked to contribute a reasonable local ‘fair share’

As the excerpts from a Star Ledger column below demonstrate, the Governor understands that things can change in positive directions and that it is time for some (8) Abbott districts to begin to share in the support of their schools where their property values have increased to such an extent that it is viable and fair to ask them to do so.

Excerpts from 3-10-06 Star Ledger/T Moran ‘Time is ripe for poorer districts to contribute’ …Sciarra now believes that some of the healthier Abbott districts should lighten the state's load by raising their own property taxes… So now Sciarra, the man who brought billions of dollars to the cities, says some of them are making out a bit too well…"If an Abbott district can contribute more funds because property values have gone up, they need to do so," Sciarra says. "We have to adjust."…..…Gordon MacInnes, the assistant education commissioner charged with running the Abbott programs, recommended recently that Corzine take the leap. "There are a number of districts that can afford to raise their taxes," MacInnes says…"This is not a fair system now. I don't think it's sustainable over time. …….…Strickland and her coalition have been remarkably supportive of the Abbott programs over the years. But it's getting harder for her to hold that alliance together. "Things have gotten better in a lot of Abbott districts," she says. "They need to contribute more. Fair is fair."

Excerpt from 23-24-06 Star Ledger/Mooney …” Superintendent Marion Bolden said she didn't have a problem with local taxpayers bearing some of the additional costs, conceding that Newark's school taxes have not risen in more than 20 years. .."That's the only fair thing, that's the right thing," she said. "It has become very difficult to make a case for the budget if there is also the ability for us pay our fair share."

Governor Corzine’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 07: Some Problems

 

  • Property taxes will continue to rise at high rates

Three governors later and going into the sixth straight year of ‘flat formula aid’, schools and their communities will compete more than ever to remain stable and – very important as well - comfortable with one another. Fiscal Year 07 brings nothing new in terms of formula change and cost drivers continue to outpace allowable growth that local taxpayers must foot on their own.

These concerns are supported by data: Since state formula aid was frozen in FY02, property taxes have grown by $2.378B; special education costs and health benefits costs combined take up approximately 62% of that growth alone. (See attached tax and enrollment charts.)

  • Special education remains inadequately supported

Enrollments have grown by approximately 17K since FY02; as the legislature did in FY04, the category of special aid extraordinary aid needs to be updated by current enrollment and costs.

  • School construction

State school construction funding is direct, measurable and meaningful property tax relief to our towns and cities. Voters in suburban and other towns approved 60 additional projects last year with the understanding that at least 40% of eligible project costs would be paid by the State. These communities continue to wait for information as to how the state share of their costs will be realized. To date, there is no practical word from the state on how it will proceed in this regard.

 

To conclude, we end where we did last year: we hope the state keep its promise, expressed both by legislators and the governor, to develop a school funding formula, and corollary revenue-raising system,  that does not divide but that works to provide support and quality education for all our school children, and stability and comfort to all our communities.                                                                                                   Thank you.

Attached:  Chart - Health Benefits costs + Special Educ costs v. local levy increases in *regular operating districts FY02 - FY06; Enrollment growth charts for resident enrollment and special education enrollment FY02 - FY06 for *regular operating districts only [*excludes Abbott, charter schools, vo-techs, service commissions, non-operating districts]; Chart - statewide resident enrollment growth FY02 - FY06.