Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     3-30-13 Education in the News - Dept of Education-State Budget, Autism Rates in NJ
     3-20-12 Education Issues in the News
     GSCS State Budget FY 2012-2013 Testimony
     3-11-12 Education Issues in the News
     2-29-12 NJTV on NJ School Funding...and, Reporters' Roundtable back on the aire
     2-26-12 State budget, School Elections, and Federal Grant funds for local reform initiatives
     2-24-12 Headlines from around NJ - from Google (hit on nj education-nj budget)
     2-23-12 Education in the News - Education reform noted in state budget message; Facebook grant to Newark teachers
     2-23-12 State Aid Figures Released late today: GSCS Statement
     STATE AID DISTRICT LIST - PROPOSED for FY 2012-2013
     Education Funding Report on School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) issued 2-23-12
     Text of Gov. Christie's State Budget Message, given Feb. 21, 2012
     2-22-12 School Aid in State Budget Message - Is There a Devil in the Details
     2-21-12 State Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2012-2013
     FY'12 State School Aid District-by-District Listing, per Appropriations Act, released 110711
     GSCS Take on Governor's Budget Message for FY'12
     GSCS 3-7-11Testimony on State Budget as Proposed by the Governor for FY'12 before the Senate Budget Committee
     Gov's Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Today, 2pm
     GSCS FYI
     2-7-11Grassroots at Work in the Suburbs
     1-13-11 Supreme Court Appoints Special Master for remand Hearing
     1-20-11 GSCS Testimony before Senator Buono's Education Aid Impact hearing in Edison
     NOTE: FOR CURRENT INFO ON STATE BUDGET FY'11, GO TO LINK ON LEFT SIDEBAR '2010-2011 STATE BUDGET'
     GSCS FYI - GSCS will be testifying onTuesday in Bergen County on the State Budget
     3-17-10 Budget News - Gov. Chris Christie proposes sacrifices
     3-15-10mid-day: 'Gov. Christie plans to cut NJ school aid by $800M'
     3-14-10 'Christie will propose constitutional amendment to cap tax hikes in N.J. budget'
     3-15-10 'N.J. taxpayers owe pension fund $45.8 billion' The Record
     3-3-10 'Public Education in N.J.: Acting NJ Comm of Educ Bret Schundler says 'Opportunity'
     2-24-10 'Tight funds raise class sizes that districts long sought to cut'
     2-22-10 Christie and unions poised to do batttle over budget cuts'
     2-22-10 Trenton Active Today
     2-19-10 'Acting NJ education commissioner hoping other savings can ward off cuts'
     2-16-10 'Christie Adopts Corzine Cuts, Then Some'
     2-14-10 'FAQ's on NJ's state of fiscal emergency declaration by Gov. Christie'
     2-12-10 Assembly Budget hearing posted for this Wednesday, Feb. 17
     2-12-10 News Coverage: Governor Christie's message on actions to address current fiscal year state budget deficits
     FY2010 Budget Solutions - PRESS PACKET
     School Aid Withheld Spreadsheet
     State Aid 2010 Reserve Calculation and Appeal Procedures
     State Aid Memo (2-11-10) 2 pgs
     2-11-10 Gov Christie address to Joint Session of the Legislature on state budget and current year aid reduction remains scheduled for today
     2-10-10 'Schools are likely targets for NJ budget cuts'
     2-9-10 News article posted this morning notes potential for large loss of current year school aid
     2-8-10 'School leaders around N.J. wait and worry over state aid figures'
     1-28-10 School Surplus plan to supplant State Aid in this year gaining probability
     1-21-10'N.J.'s Christie won't rule out layoffs, furloughs to close unexpected $1.2B deficit'
     2005 Archive
     1-18-10 Advance news on 'Christie as new Governor'
     GSCS to speak at Tri-District 'Open' meeting in Monmouth on January 27
     12-15-09 GSCS is working with the Christie Transition Team
     11-29-09 Ramifications - News of NJ's fiscal realities
     Codey bill allows Budget Message to be delayed until March 16, 2010
     6-26-09 Executive Director to GSCS Trustees; Wrap Up Report - State Budget and Assembly bills this week
     6-26-09 NJ State Budget Passed late Thursday night
     6-19-09 a.m. GSCS 'Quick' FYI - State Budget Vote delayed to Thursday, June 25
     6-18-09 Deocrats say they have the votes to pass the State Budget today
     6-16-09 News from Trenton on State Budget in Senate and Assembly Budget Committees yesterday
     APPROPRIATIONS ACT FY2009-1020 as introduced
     A4100-S2010 Appropriations Act 'Scoresheet' and Language Changes released
     5-14-09 GSCS Heads Up - State Aid payments to be delayed into next Fiscal Year
     5-19-09 Treasurer David Rousseau announces additional round of cuts to Gov's proposed State Budget FY2009-2010
     4-5-09 The Record, Sunday April 5, Front Page Opinion
     Latest Title 1 'preliminary' funding under the ARRA 3-09
     Latest website filing by the USDOE on Title 1 funding
     3-13-09 Information to Districts re: Federal Stimulus- Additional Title 1 and IDEA funding information still not ready for distribution
     3-11-09 CORZINE BUDGET ADDRESS: STATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS A LITTLE MORE NOT LESS - FEDERAL TITLE 1 & IDEA INCREASES YET TO BE COUNTED - STATE SCHOOL AID FIGURES ON DEPT OF ED WEBSITE 1:30 TODAY - RELATED ARTICLES, MORE...
     3-10-09 GOVERNOR TO DELIVER STATE BUDGET MESSAGE TODAY - SCHOOL AID FIGURES TO BE RELEASED BY THURSDAY LATEST
     2-24-09 State Budget & Stimulus News of Note
     2-23-09 S-15 (Buono) Pension Deferral bill up for a vote in the Sentate today
     2-19-09 Federal stimulus - information re: Education funding in 'State Fiscal Stabilization' part of the package
     2-18-09 Corzine announces more cuts, more deficit
     NJ District listing, Title One & IDEA under federal stimulus law
     2-3-09 Corzine to unveil new cuts when he offers 2010 budget
     1-23-09 Schools get an eduction in thrift
     1-17-09 GSCS EMAILNET & SCHOOL FUNDING OVERVIEW
     1-16-09 Today's news notes state budget waiting on Obama stimulus package
     1-15-09 HEADS UP - Budget Message date to be delayed now to March 12
     1-14-09 Meeting with Mayors, Corzine warns of cuts
     1-9-09 State Senator requests education committee hearing on potential school funding cuts
     12-28-08 NY Times 'Pension Fight Signals What Lies Ahead'
     11-25-08 Perspective piece criticizes recent Supreme Court Abbott decision
     6-24-08 State Budget passed yesterday, as did the School Construction, Pension Reform, and Affordable Housing bills
     6-23-08 A2873-S1457 School Construction bills up for vote today, along with State Budget FY09
     6-20-08 State Budget stalls, school construction is one obstacle
     A2800 - Proposed State Budget bill released 6-17-08
     6-17-08 Legislature and Governor agree on State Budget FY09
     GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET Fiscal Year 2009...INFO
     Office of Leg Services Analysis of Gov's Education budget FY09
     GSCS & NJ Spec. Educ.Funding Coalition on STATE FUNDING FOR EXTRAORDINARY COST FY09 issues & beyond
     6-9-08 GSCS Quick Facts: TRENTON FOCUS THIS WEEK
     3-19-08 GSCS Testimony on State Budget for Fiscal Year 2008-2009
     2-26-08 Governor Corzine's Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2008-2009
     6-29-07 Lots of news affecting NJ, its schools and communities this week - STATE BUDGET signed - LIST OF LINE ITEM VETOES - US SUPREME CT RULING impacts school desgregation - SPECIAL EDUCATION GROUPS file suit against state
     6-14-07 Revisions to State Budget filed today
     4-4-07 N Y Times, front page 'NJ Pension Fund Endangered by Diverted Billions'
     3-15-07 State eases at risk aid restrictions & 25% members of NJ Senate retiring (so far)
     3-13-07 GSCS Testimony on State Budget FY'08
     GRASSROOTS SPEAK UP re State Aid for FY07-08 & Recent Legislation that can negatively impact school communities
     Hearings Schedule for State Budget FY07-08
     3-1-07 Emerging Devil showing up in the details
     2-27-07 GSCS welcomes that state aid increases for regular operating districts helps lower & some middle income districts - will persevere to see that the state extends its share of support to education more fully to all districts
     2-23-07 News Articles re Gov's Budget Proposal
     2-22-07 GSCS EMAILNET re Gov's Budget Message
     2-22-07 Gov's Budget Message Link & Related News Articles
     2-22-07 GSCS Press Release: Governor Corzine's Budget Message today
     2-22-07 Governor Corzine's Budget Message today
     2-16 to 2-19 New Articles of Note
     2-14-07 GSCS letter to Gov Corzine & Commr of Education Davy - Request for State Aid FY0708
     NJ Assembly Session FY06 Budget Debate Majority Leader Joe Roberts standing
     7-12-06 Column on State Budget legislator items
     7-11-06 Appropriations Act bill
     7-9&10-06 State Budget news articles -wrap up & news analyses
     7-9-06 Sunday New York Times
     7-8-06 FY07 Budget approved - 19.5 in spec ed grants stays in
     7-7-06 Afternoon Friday - budget document awaiting
     7-7-06 EMAILNET - AGREEMENT ON STATE BUDGET REACHED, impt 'details' still being finalized
     7-7-06 AGREEMENT ON STAE BUDGET REACHED, impt 'details' still being finalized
     7-3-06 Roberts, Codey & Corzine still not on same page
     6-30-06 State Budget news - as the dissonance must be resolved
     6-29-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET FYI' Update on State Budget for FY 2007
     6-29-06 Mirroring the elements, State Budget looking like a 'natural disaster'
     6-25-06 State Budget issues:legislative branches conflict - news articles
     6-14-06 Assembly Minority Budget Leader Joe Malone's Op Ed
     Editorial on benefit of using UEZ surplus for spec educ aid for this year
     6-12-06 EMAILNET - Extraordinary Special Education student aid; FY07 Budget 'crunch' is on; news clips
     Weekend News Clips re Property Tax & School Funding issues
     GSCS 15th Annual Breakfast Meeting Program Info Update
     5-16-06 EMAILNET Action in Trenton
     5-10-06 EMAILNET
     5-10-06 A Lot is going on - Major News fromTrenton
     5-9-06 Supreme Ct freezes aid & Asm Budget Comm grills DOE Commissioner
     News articles
     TRENTON RALLY PROPOSED (late morning) Thurs JUNE 8
     3-28-06 GSCS testimony before Assembly Budget Comm today
     Legislative Calendar during State Budget FY07 process
     4-17-06 EMAILNET
     4-16-06 Star Ledger editorial & article re Gov v. Abbott from 4-15-06
     40-16-06 Gannett & Asbury Park Press on School Budget election issues
     4-16-06 Sunday NY Times Metro Section, front page
     Governor Corzine takes steps towards major policy initiatives.
     3-28 & 4-3-06 GSCS FY07 testimony before Senate & Assembly Budget Comm
     Grassroots at work - Ridgewood Board member testimony of FY07
     4-8-06 Corzine Administration files brief with Supreme Court re Abbott funding
     4-7-06 The Record
     3-31-06 AP 'Budget idea puts onus on income taxes, businesses'
     3-29-06 EMAILNET State Budget FY07 Hearings Update
     3-24-06 EMAILNET FYI Update on Gov Corzine's Budget FY07
     3-24-06 Schools learn who wins, loses in Corzine budget
     3-23-06 Corzine says some Abbotts can raise taxes
     3-22-06 News Article sampling on Governor's Proposed FY07 Budget
     3-22-06 EMAILNET Governor Corzine's Budget Message
     Governor's 3-21-06 Budget message & hard copy links
     3-15-06 News articles on FY07
     3-10-06 Star Ledger 'Time is ripe for poorer districts to contribute.
     EMAILNET 3-9-06 to South Jersey districts
     3-7-06 More articles on the Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members fo to Trenton
     3-7-06 Articles on Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members off to Trenton
     3-4-06 Star Ledger Interest groups to address budget
     3- 4-06 Trenton Times Likey state aid cuts frustrating districts
     3-3-06 EMAILNET Budget Discussions begin in earnest
     7-14-05 EMAILNET Record article & today's editorial re politics & inequity in school aid and S1701: Update
     Check it out - The Press of Atlantic City 7-6-05 Education Funds lie in Budget Fine Print
     3-1-06 EMAILNET State Budget FY07, Health Benefits
     2-24-06 Trenton Times - Higher schools taxes needed
     School Budget Guidelines released 2-21-07
     2-11-06 Trenton Timesn'NJ State Budget has little wiggle room'
     2-1-06 EMAILNET GSCS Advocacy FY07 Budget; On the Homepage Today
     FUNDING HISTORY - May 27 1998 - Education Week article re Abbott V - funding above parity
     2003 GSCS letter to legislators
     Star Ledger 6-29-05 Bid to Save Tax Rebates Imperils NJ Budget
     Rebate Debate on Budget for FY06
     Public Information available at New Jersey website
     S2558 Bill to provide $19.9M in Abbott aid to additional districts
     GSCS Advocacy for State Budget FY06
     GSCS Testimony: State Budget Fiscal Year 2006
A4100-S2010 Appropriations Act 'Scoresheet' and Language Changes released
INITIAL review of the documents provided by the Office of Legislative Services on the N J Legislature homepage indicate that 1) the is no reduction in debt service aid, and 2) there is a reducation of $5M for high density populations of autistic students, 3) the pre-school incentive aid is not included in the A4100/S2010,4) an increase of $10M for Extraordinary Aid to Special Education, and 5)an addition of $10M for Adult Education . For your convenience, GSCS has compiled relevant information from these documents provided on the NJ legislature homepage. Attached here is some overview excerpts on the A4100-S2010 bills' impact via language changes and funding changes comparing the just introduced [over the weekend for public viewing] comparing A4100/S2010 to the Governor's original proposed budget for fiscal yeare 2009-2010 (March 2009).

 

Summary of language changes in Budget Bills

 

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/10Budget/S2010_A4100%20Scoresheet%20June%2012.pdf

 

SUMMARY re language comparison showing changes from Governor Corzine’s Proposed Budget for fiscal year 2009-2010  to Legislature Bill A410/ S2010 FY10 Appropriations Act

 

S2010/A4100 LANGUAGE CHANGES:

 

 

P4

10 Language Clarifying the Use of Federal Stimulus Aid for Teachers' Salaries: EDUTOT: 152

LO EDUTOT:

Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, the amounts hereinabove appropriated as

General Formula Aid - Federal Economic Stimulus funded from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund under the

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, are subject to the following condition: expenditures for

teacher salaries made by school districts from such appropriations are deemed to be considered State

supported for the purposes of reimbursement of fringe costs required under N.J.S.18A:66-90.

 

 

 

Page 5

11 Language Clarifying that Funds Allocated to Charter Schools by Districts Shall be Deemed to Be Paid from State Aid: EDUTOT: 153LO EDUTOT:

Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, all funds allocated to charter schools by the districts of residence shall be deemed to be paid from appropriations for State Aid and not from appropriations from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

 

52 Language Appropriating Up To $650,000 for Emergency Aid Applications: EDU30#31S: 154

LO EDU30#31S:

Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, there are appropriated to the Emergency Fund account such additional sums as may be required, not to exceed $650,000, to fund approved applications for emergency aid in accordance with the provisions of P.L.1967, c.271 (C.18A:58-11), subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting.

 

52 Language Appropriating Unexpended Balances for Emergency Aid: EDUTOT: 155

LO EDUTOT:

[The unexpended balances at the end of the preceding fiscal year in the State Aid accounts, not to exceed $650,000, are appropriated to the State Aid Supplemental Funding account and may be available to fund approved applications for emergency aid in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.18A:58-11.]

 

 

 

P6

134 Deletes Language that would have provided $5,000,000 for Districts with Unusually High Rates of Disability: EDU30#31PS: 161

EDU30#31PS:

[From the amount hereinabove appropriated for Special Education Categorical Aid, there is appropriated $5,000,000

for eligible districts with “unusually high rates” of low-incidence disabilities, with an unusually high rate

defined as a district with a classification percentage greater than 1.5 standard deviations above the mean

classification rate for the district’s enrollment cohort for at least one of the following classification groups:

autism; multiple disabilities; mental retardation; or a combination of orthopedic impairments, autism, deaf

blindness, hearing impairments, visual impairments, mental retardation, traumatic brain injury, and preschool

disabled. An eligible district is defined as one with an enrollment of 1,000 or more pupils, as defined by the

Commissioner of Education, filing an application that demonstrates that the district meets the “high rate of

low-incidence disabilities” definition and demonstrates the extent to which the costs to the district for the high

rate of low-incidence disabilities are not sufficiently addressed through Special Education Aid, Extraordinary

Special Education Aid, and local funds. The application must provide details of all special education

expenditures, including details on the use of federal funds to support those expenditures. The allocation of

additional Special Education Categorical Aid shall be made on a per pupil basis prorated, if necessary, over the

number of eligible pupils and shall be based on the extent the district’s costs are not sufficiently addressed

through Special Education Aid, Extraordinary Special Education Aid, and local revenue. Additional Special

Education Categorical Aid shall be recorded by the district as revenue in the current year and paid to the

district in the subsequent school year. Districts receiving this aid may be subject to audit to verify eligibility

and expenditures.]

 

P7

135 Deletes Language Concerning the Proposed New Preschool Incentive Aid Program: EDU30#31S: 162

EDU30#31S:

[Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, the amount hereinabove appropriated for Preschool Incentive Aid shall be distributed to districts that elect to dedicate a portion or all of the district’s

additional allocation of federal Title I, Part A funding authorized under the "American Recovery and

Reinvestment Act of 2009" towards serving additional full-day preschool students or expanding from half-day

to full-day preschool programs in 2009-2010. Notwithstanding any provision of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1

et seq.), the Commissioner of Education shall be authorized to develop the criteria for distributing this aid and

shall adopt regulations that shall be deemed adopted and effective immediately upon filing with the Office of

Administrative Law. Priority will be given to applications from “universal” districts. Districts shall be required

to place funds in a restricted account to support expansion in 2009-2010 or, at the discretion of the

commissioner, for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.]

 

 

138.20 Modifies Language Concerning June School Aid Payments EDUTOT: 164

LO EDUTOT:

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8 of P.L.1996, c.138 (C.18A:7F-8), the June [22nd] school aid [payment

is] payments are subject to the approval of the State Treasurer.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, payments from amounts hereinabove

appropriated for State aid may be made directly to the district bank account for the repayment of principal and

interest and other costs, when authorized under

 

p20

2020 Language Creating a Competitive Technology Pilot Grant Program: EDUTOT: 368

LO EDUTOT:

From federal funds that are available pursuant to the American Recovery Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for

Educational Technology State Grants, the New Jersey Department of Education shall provide competitive

grants awarded to school districts for the purchase or lease of wireless computer hardware, software and

training. Twenty-five percent of any grant award shall be used for professional development that focuses on

utilizing digital environments to enable new teaching methods. The New Jersey Department of Education shall

award grants pursuant to a competitive process and in a manner that complies with applicable federal law.

Funding shall enable the purchase of the following components: hardware and software, including wireless

laptop computers; broadband internet access; access to digital

 

p27

166.1 Modifying Language Provision Concerning Non-Profit Non-Public School Transportation Aid for Remote School Pupil EDU30#34PS: 394

LO Transportation:

EDU30#34PS:

For any school district receiving amounts from the amount hereinabove appropriated for Transportation Aid, and

notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, if the school district is located in a

county of the third class or a county of the second class with a population of less than 235,000, according

to the 1990 federal decennial census, transportation shall be provided to school pupils residing in this school

district in going to and from any remote school other than a public school, not operated for profit in whole

or in part, located within the State not more than [20] 30 miles from the residence of the pupil.

 

p29

1012 Language Concerning Allocation of Certain Education and Training Funds to Consortia: LAB50#54G: 453

LO LAB50#54G:

Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, the Department of Labor and Workforce

Development shall consider consistent with applicable federal law a formal association of community based

organizations to be a "local consortium" for the purposes of receiving funding for the delivery of English as a Second

Language or Civics education/training.

 

P32 160.2 Modifies Language Concerning the Calculation of Extraordinary Special Education Costs Aid: EDU30#31S: 483 LO EDU30#31S:

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 13 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-55) to the contrary, [Extraordinary Special Education Costs Aid] 2008-2009 extraordinary special education costs for an individual classified pupil shall be reimbursed: pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection b. of that section at 95% of the direct instructional and support services costs in excess of $40,000; pursuant to paragraph (2) of that subsection at 85% of the direct instructional and support services costs in excess of $40,000; and pursuant to paragraph (3) of that subsection at 85% for tuition costs in excess of $55,000. A district's 2008-2009 award from the amount hereinabove appropriated for Extraordinary Special Education Costs Aid will be based on a comparison of that calculation to the projected award amount in the commissioner's report dated December 12, 2007. If the approved costs amount is greater than the projected amount, the district shall receive the amount of the increased award. If the district received adjustment aid in 2008-09 pursuant to section 16 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-58), the district's 2008-09 adjustment aid shall be reduced by the amount of any increase in the approved award of Extraordinary Special Education Costs Aid over the projected amount, but by no more than the State aid provided pursuant to section 16 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-58). If the approved

costs amount of Extraordinary Special Education Costs Aid is less than the projected amount, the district's award of this aid shall be adjusted accordingly so that the district shall not receive less State aid than provided pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-47) or section 16 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-58), as applicable. The commissioner shall direct school districts as to any required appropriate adjustments to 2008-09 other aid categories.

 

            Appropriations Bill FY 2010 Summary Totals

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/10Budget/S2010_A4100%20Scoresheet%20June%2012.pdf

Comparison of Budget Revenues from Governor’s Proposed Budget to Legislature’s Appropriations Act bill for Fiscal Yr 2010

(Education, see p.9)

 

 Synopsis(1)                        Budget Message     Difference(2) - (1)

EDUCATION Totals: $10,413,691     $10,156,517     ($257,174)

Extraord  Sp Ed Costs Aid                    130,000                  140,095                                    10,095

Special Education Categorical Aid (PTRF)       735,144                 730,144                                    -5,000

Adult Education (PTRF)                                                     0                    10,000                                   10,000

School Constr. & Renov. Fund (PTRF)               478,446                  373,446                                -105,000

 

(Note: These moneys are set aside to pay interest for school construction loans taken out by the state. Via ‘Debt Restructuring’  the State refinanced and saved $105M))