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Star Ledger--If Christie wants fairness, he'll back this school funding fix | Editorial
The deal just struck by state Democratic leaders on school funding, which corrects some of the most outrageous inequities in our system, is a huge step in the right direction.
It addresses a serious problem: The formula the Legislature uses to fund schools is outdated, and still awards districts state aid based on what they looked like years ago, before their real estate booms or enrollment bursts.
As a result, Jersey City or Hoboken still get aid as if their real estate markets were in the dumps, while districts that have absorbed waves of new students are starved of money.
Star-Ledger Editorial Board| Updated on June 17, 2017 at 7:07 AM Posted on June 17, 2017 at 7:03 AM
Star Ledger--The 20 biggest losers in controversial school funding plan
TRENTON — Democratic lawmakers last week unveiled a school funding proposal that would affect most New Jersey districts' state aid for the upcoming school year.
The plan, billed as a potential first step to solving the state's school funding problems, has its winners, losers and plenty of school districts that wouldn't see much of a difference either way.
Here are the Democratic plan's 20 biggest losers for the upcoming school year based on the percentage a district's state aid would change compared to Gov. Chris Christie's budget proposal.
The plan would need Christie's approval before taking effect.
Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com| Updated June 18, 2017,Posted June 18, 2017
Star Ledger--The 20 biggest winners in controversial school funding plan
TRENTON — Democratic lawmakers this week unveiled a school funding proposal that would affect most New Jersey districts' state aid for the upcoming school year.
The plan, billed as a potential first step to solving the state's school funding problems, has its winners, losers and plenty of school districts that wouldn't see much of a difference either way.
Here are the Democratic plan's 20 biggest winners for the upcoming school year based on the percentage a district's state aid would change compared to Gov. Chris Christie's budget proposal.
The plan would need Christie's approval before taking effect.
Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com| Updated June 17, 2017, Posted June 17, 2017
The Record--School funding deal could play havoc with district planning
Preparations for the coming school year are well underway, with districts purchasing textbooks, hiring teachers and making other arrangements based on budgets that were finalized earlier this year.
But a school funding deal announced by Democratic leaders in the Legislature this week could play havoc with some of those plans. While about 400 districts stand to gain funding from the state, roughly 120 would lose it, forcing cuts or other tough decisions to make up the difference.
“No school in the state could be expected to adjust to a budget decrease at this late date,” 18 advocacy groups and unions wrote in a joint letter to Senate Democrats this week. “Cuts will hurt students.”
Nicholas Pugliese , State House Bureau, @nickpugz 6:00 a.m. ET June 19, 2017
