Politickernj-State Street Wire - Resolution opposing school funding reduction for at-risk students passes committee

By Darryl R. Isherwood | January 14th, 2013 - 3:14pm

The Senate budget committee today passed a resolution opposing portions of a new school funding plan that reduces funding for at-risk students.

The resolution, SCR-134 was passed by the committee along party lines, with the exception of Sen. Linda Greenstein, (D-14) who said while she was not totally in favor of the plan, it resulted in an additional $3 million for Hamilton Township school district, the largest school district in the 14^th.

The formula, which was contained in the Education Adequacy Report presented to the Legislature last year, reduces the weight given to at-risk and bilingual students, in effect reducing funding for poor students.

“The Legislature hereby notifies the Governor that it objects to the recommendations included in the Educational Adequacy Report that reduce the weights associated with at-risk students, bilingual education students and combinations students, on the basis that the recommendations are not supported by any research or analysis demonstrating that the use of the higher weights included in the school funding law has provided school districts with more resources that are required to provide for the additional educational needs of the students,” the resolution reads.

The resolution passed in the Assembly Budget Committee earlier today by an 8 to 4 vote.

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