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Good News For Lakewood: Governor Corzine Announces New School Funding Formula


corzine1.jpgYeshivaworld has just learned of the good news, that Lakewood will be getting a $4.4 Million increase in School funding.

In a statement to Yeshivaworld, Spokesman for the Lakewood Vaad – Rabbi Moshe Zev Weisberg said: “The Lakewood Vaad has been working diligently for years to get the State formula changed to better reflect the true demographics needs of Lakewood. Gov. Corzine had assured us many times that he understands the situation in Lakewood and will make it a priority to fix the injustice to our town, among others. We are relieved that he has made good with a down payment on that pledge and look forward to some relief for the beleaguered taxpayer of Lakewood.”

Additionally, Rabbi Aaron Kotler CEO of BMG told Yeshivaworld that Assemblyman Joe Malone, and Senator Bob Singer must be publicly commended for working extensively to ensure that the funding was secured.

The following is what Governor Corzine’s office released:

Governor Jon S. Corzine today unveiled a new formula that provides a unified approach to school funding and allocates similar resources to similarly situated students, no matter where they live. The formula replaces the outdated, ad-hoc state aid system that currently exists.

Under A New Formula for Success: All Children, All Communities, approximately $7.8 billion will be distributed for K-12 education for the FY2009 fiscal year, an increase of approximately $530 million.

All districts will receive a state aid increase of at least 2 percent during the first year, and no districts will see a decrease in total state aid during the first three years of the program. In later years, decreases in aid would occur if districts experience declines in overall enrollment or in enrollment categories.

“Over the last year, parents and educators have been telling me they want more for students and they are passionate,” Corzine said. “Today we unveil a new school funding formula that gives all of our children in all of our communities the opportunity to succeed. It is balanced, unified and equitable and it provides significant relief to local property taxpayers, who for decades have shouldered the important yet growing cost of education.”

Education Commissioner Lucille E. Davy noted that the details of the formula released today are the result of more than a year of intensive work by department and administration officials, legislators and stakeholders.

“This is a formula that follows the basic principle that children with greater needs deserve greater resources,” said Education Commissioner Lucille Davy. “The Department of Education has worked long and hard over the past year to devise a fair, balanced, equitable, and logical system of allocating state education aid.

“With this new formula we are expanding the definition of “needy” students, making sure those children who face multiple obstacles are fully funded and ensuring aid is distributed to middle-income districts accordingly.”

The Governor has also proposed the expansion of high-quality preschool to at-risk three- and four-year olds-in districts throughout the state. Funding for the expansion would be outside the amounts announced today, and it would be phased in over time.

Adequacy Budgets

Aid will be distributed through a foundation formula. Calculations are based on a per-pupil adequacy budget, which represents what each district should be spending to allow each student to attain New Jersey’s educational standards. The base amount is set for elementary school students and is increased for middle school students, high school students and vocational school students because it grows more expensive to meet students’ needs as they progress through school.

Additional weights are added to the basic formula for at-risk students (those eligible for free or reduced lunch), students with limited English proficiency (LEP) and special education students. A combination weight is calculated for students who are both at-risk and LEP.

The formula also recognizes that there are additional challenges in meeting students’ needs when there is a high concentration of poverty in a district, so the additional at-risk weight increases as the poverty weight in a community increases. Forty-nine percent of New Jersey students eligible for free and reduced lunch live in non-Abbott districts.

In addition, the formula encourages districts to provide full-day kindergarten by accounting for a full-day program and funding it as part of each district’s adequacy budget.

Finally, because there are cost differentials in different parts of the state, the adequacy budget is adjusted by a geographic cost index.

Special Education

The formula also changes the way special education is funded in New Jersey, recognizing and addressing the true statewide cost of special education. Funding allocated for special education will increase significantly by approximately $470 million in the 2008-09 school year.

The approach followed, which is used by the federal government and several other states, is known as the “census method.” Each district’s adequacy budget for special education costs will be calculated by multiplying the statewide average 14.69 percent classification rate by the per pupil special education excess cost of $10,897. For each district, one-third of this special education component will be funded on a categorical basis and two-thirds will be funded on a wealth-equalized basis.

An increase in categorical extraordinary special education aid will complement the formula. The state will now fund 75 percent of per-pupil special education costs that exceed $40,000 per student for in-district placements and $55,000 per pupil for out-of-district placements.

State and Local Share

Districts’ adequacy budgets are supported by both state and local funding. The calculation of each district’s local share is based on the wealth of each community as measured by aggregate income and property value.



10 Responses

  1. There are actually many problems with this bill – I’m not sure you should assume its good! There’s always the question of where this money is coming from and how it will be allocated. It could be for general ed its good, but for one thing, I can tell you that if the full proposal passes, for special ed it’s actually quite damaging and will cause a lot of damage to communities (like Lakewood)where there is a high number of special ed kids to lose out. it also includes details that will hurt private special ed – something that will specifically hurt the frum community. I think this is something everyone should be aware of.

  2. Another comment, “An increase in categorical extraordinary special education aid will complement the formula” is simply untrue – 75% is a decrease – until now it was 100% covered. Also the “$55,000 per pupil for out-of-district placements” is exactly what will hurt private school special ed (especiall funded schools like SCHI) because it covers less for them (gives a higher bracket)…..

  3. Third comment – according to federal law its illegal to provide dif. in compensation according to district/placement – which is what this bill says.
    It is supposed to be calculated according to the needs of the student.

  4. I can hardly wait till our next tax increase so we can thank the askanim for all their afforts.
    I am certain that the increase will be minimised
    I dont remember the last time any of these programs brought about any tax relief .
    Edited by Moderator.

  5. while this is a good start its a drop in the bucket!

    how much would it cost the state if we enrolled 20-30 thousands kids in the Lakewood public school system?
    how many new building would they need to provide?
    think about it.
    we must work on a voucher system

  6. when we see the tax break we will party, I am sure linda from the township will find ways to keep it as high as possible , and of course we must sit back and accept…..

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