School Facts - Information & Funding Data & Reports

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

7-31-07 EMAILNET Status of School Funding Formula, more

GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS/GSCS

EMAILNET 7-31-07

GSCS on State’s School Funding Formula Process

gscs2000@gmail.com www.gscschools.org

GSCS Quick Fact: There is no August Board of Trustees Meeting … the next Board of Trustees meeting will be held September 26, 2007 3:30 at the East Brunswick Board of Education. For 2007-2008 GSCS Calendar, click on ‘Board Information’ link on sidebar/left. GSCS continues its work on its own school funding ‘white paper’ ….

GSCS on Current ‘Holding Pattern’ Status of School Funding Formula discussion

The Department of Education has been holding ‘stakeholder’ meetings that are ‘topic-oriented’ to some of the issues inherent in a school funding formula. To date these meetings have been

(1) Review of costing-out study process/April,

(2) Transportation (while property taxes had been listed as a topic, that discussed was removed from the table on the day of the meeting. So far, there is no reschedule for a discussion on property taxes, one of the central issues in a school funding formula),

(3) Charter schools, Choice, and Vo-Techs, and

(4) early childhood education.

Summary: These meetings allow for a limited discussion of the issues as presented by the Commissioner and staff; at this point, they have not garnered the give-and-take hard conversation that is needed to move the formula discussion forward to practical bill form. In addition, when talk is centered on the part without a real picture or idea of the whole, there is no sense of having an exchange that is ‘grounded’ in reality. Until this next step occurs there remains a sense of the potential for a formula being delayed, certainly until past the November elections, but further, into another year(s). While the Governor continues to reiterate his commitment to enacting a new formula by the end of the year, in lame duck session, there are repeated signals from legislators that this will not happen.

Schools, and their towns, are now entering the 7^th year without a predictable, stable and fair system of school aid. Let your newspaper editors, your legislators, this fall’s candidates for legislative office and the Governor know what your feelings are about this continued postponement that demonstrates lack of regard for quality public education – and community stability via local property tax overreliance - by the leadership of the state of New Jersey.

On the GSCS homepage today, for details, go to www.gscschools.org

8-2-07 Editorial 'Reliance on property taxes must be fixed'
Courier Post - Reliance on property taxes must be fixed "...Our elected officials in Trenton -- Gov. Jon Corzine and legislators -- have to make fixing the school-funding formula their top priority. If they don't, this state's oppressive property taxes will continue to drive people away from New Jersey. What's happening in Haddon Heights will continue to happen in other communities across the s'tate.
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ANOTHER BIG CAMPAIGN ISSUE - A NEW SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA
By David Rebovich - July 5, 2007 on Politicsnj.com 9:26am "...Governor Jon Corzine sees the practice (asset monetization) as a way to rescue state government...However, no matter what happens with asset monetization, there's another big issue that lawmakers may also not deal with until addressing until after the election, and citizens should be concerned about this as well. That issue is a new school funding formula..."
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PDF listing wtih 2008 legislative candidate addresses found at NJ Div of Elections Website
NJ STATE ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 2007 BALLOT: http://www.nj.gov/oag/elections/2007results/07primary-election/07-primary-election-general-assembly-candidate-tallies-6.6.07.pdf

NJ STATE SENATE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 2007 BALLOT: http://www.nj.gov/oag/elections/2007results/07primary-election/07-primary-election-state-senate-candidates-tallies-6.6.07.pdf

These lists are from the NJ Division of Elections website. The list of candidates are winners of the June 07 primary elections.

*Denotes Incumbents.

Lists found at: NJ DIVISION OF ELECTIONS - WEBSITE PDFs LISTS LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES FOR 2008 office; ADDRESSS INFORMATION INCLUDED. http://www.nj.gov/oag/elections/2007results/2007-primaryelectionunofficial_results.html
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GSCS ADVOCACY PACKET re NEED FOR NEW SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA NOW
Click on More below to see GSCS PARENT AND COMMUNITY ACTION PACKET on the need for the state to fulfill its stated commitment to bring forth a new school funding formula that can improve the educational and financial well-being for schools and communities throught New Jersey. Included in the packet is an explanation about the 'why' a new formula is needed, as well as a sample letter-to-the-editor (for local and statewide newspapers), and a letter to legislators/and legislative candidates. FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, AT THE LINK ON THE SIDEBAR "FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR" THERE IS A LISTING OF LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES, INCUMBENTS AND NON-INCUMBENTS, THAT ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE THIS NOVEMBER.Remember - all elected offices are open this fall in both the state Senate and Assembly. Those seeking election need to hear your concerns and to respond those concerns during their campaigns. Tell GSCS of your feedback and we will track the responses. Take advantage of this opportunity to be heard. YOUR VOICES ARE NEEDED!
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COUNCIL ON LOCAL MANDATES 'ELIMINATES' DOE spec ed 'AGE SPAN' reg 7-26
IN THE MATTER OF COMPLAINTS FILED BY THE SPECIAL SERVICES SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF

BURLINGTON, ATLANTIC, CAPE MAY, AND BERGEN COUNTIES

Council on Local Mandates

...(“Claimants”) filed Complaints with the Council contending that a Department of Education regulation, N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.7(a)(2), violates the constitutional prohibition against new unfunded mandates, Article VIII, Section 2, paragraph 5 of the New Jersey Constitution, as codified in the Local Mandates Act (“LMA”). The challenged regulation reduces the maximum age span in elementary school special education classes from four years to three, which Claimants allege will require them to incur additional direct expense for new teachers, classrooms and supplies...

[17] As a result of the within decision, the claims raised in the six Complaints held by the Council in abeyance (see footnote 2 above) are rendered moot and are hereby dismissed, with no need for further proceedings pursuant to Rule 9 of the Council’s Rules of Procedure.
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UPDATED - GSCS Membership Questions, FAQ's etc., see 'Board Information' sidebar left

8-1-07 'Paterson isn't ready to gain control' & 7-29 'The Numbers still don't add up'
STAR LEDGER - 8-1-07 Grim report indicates Paterson isn't ready to regain school control More than 15 years after the state takeover of Paterson schools, the district still has problems in its bookkeeping, cannot ensure teachers are properly certified and, until this year, didn't have an updated curriculum...And that's the appraisal from the state itself.

7-29-07 'The numbers still don't add up' ... "In spite of major changes, three Newark schools fall short of federal (NCLB) requirements..."
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7-27-07 Retiree health costs 'time bomb'
The Record - Retiree health costs 'time bomb' for N.J. "If New Jersey taxpayers had to pay off the cost of health benefits for retired state workers and teachers in one fell swoop today, the bill would ring up at $58 billion. But look on the bright side: It's a lot less than the $78 billion that was previously estimated..."
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7-26-07 Education Law Center on school funding reform via is subgroup report
This report by ELC's 'Our Children Our Schools' group is a good summary of the current status of Trenton and school funding formula issues and questions. However, GSCS notes that the concluding statement that it is better to get it (a formula) right, rather than fast is too simple a statement that skims over the complexity of the issue. In good faith, GSCS disagrees. Regular operating districts have not had the stability, funding, nor predictability of formula implementation since FY02. In order to actually get a formula in place, the legislature has to have a bill (proposed legislation)in hand before there can be any real viable and productive discussion on the Trenton's table. All that will indeed take time too before a final formula compromise is reached and effected. Delaying that debate in legislative form, especially post the 2008 elections, will likely put off any formula implementation for another couple of years. That would mean that NJ could be without a school funding formula for at least 8 years. The process needs to step up and it can be done.
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7-25-07 NY Times '2 NJ school districts regain some local control'
"After more than a decade under state control, the Newark and Jersey City public schools have improved enough to be allowed to take back some of their fiscal and management operations as a first step toward regaining local control, state education officials said yesterday..." "...Shelley Skinner, a Jersey City parent who in the spring started an advocacy group for better schools, said she was disappointed by the news..."
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7-25-07 Debate over School Tests
Star Ledger - Debate over school tests: What's being left behind? Focus on math, reading may hurt other subjects
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Recent education Research articles of note from Public Educ Network
"PUBLIC SCHOOLS MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AMERICANS SAY Americans believe public schools must be held accountable for properly educating children and give the No Child Left BehindAct (NCLB) high marks for its goals, but also think NCLB needs dramatic changes.....The public voice must be part of th process used by policymakers if they want to be trusted on behalf of the nation's children."

HOW SCHOOLS GET IT RIGHT Whether they are in wealthy or poor neighborhoods, schools with lots of high-scoring students share certain characteristics. They have experienced teachers who stay for years, reports Liz Bowie in the Baltimore Sun, and they offer extracurricular activities after school. Sometimes, they have many students in gifted-and-talented classes working with advanced material. These are the schools that families looking for a great public education will seek out and move close to because students are achieving far beyond the basic levels set by state and federal laws.
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