New Jersey has been a national leader in school funding equity. Recently, schools have been facing significant decreases in state aid and other serious challenges to public education, and not all New Jersey children have adequate funding or access to high quality preschool, safe facilities, and the teachers and programs they need to succeed. Our Children/Our Schools seeks to inform the public debate on important issues in public education and advocate for high quality education for all New Jersey children.

June 2010 "Fund the Formula in FY2011" Campaign in Full Swing  Education Organizers, Advocates and Parents Testify on State Budget OC/OS April Education Forum on School Aid and the State Budget Time Running Out to Prevent AHSA 'Dropout Disaster' Turning Around Our Schools Through Community Recovery and Reinvestment Latino Action Network: One Voice for All Latinos News Roundup Upcoming Events Resources Governor's Proposed 2011 State Budget in Brief NJDOE Appeals Process for AHSA "Fund the Formula in FY2011" Campaign in Full Swing Immediately after Governor Christie proposed his state budget for FY2011, Our Children/Our Schools launched a campaign to influence State Legislators on education aid. The campaign's slogan is "Fund the Formula in FY2011." OC/OS has been circulating a campaign petition demanding that the Legislature provide state aid to school districts in accordance with the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA). Read more about the OC/OS campaign and sign the "Fund the Formula" petition ... Education Organizers, Advocates and Parents Testify on State Budget Hundreds of New Jersey residents presented testimony on Governor Christie's proposed state budget to the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees in March, April and May. Public education supporters were out in full force to condemn the massive cuts in state aid to schools.   Read more about the public hearings, including advocates' testimony .. OC/OS April Education Forum on School Aid and the State Budget The forum, entitled "School Funding and the FY2011 State Budget," was held on the Rutgers-Newark campus on April 24. Panelists and participants discussed proposed cuts in state school aid, the OC/OS school funding campaign, and opportunities for action and input in support of public education during the months leading up to the State Legislature's vote on the budget. Read more about the forum and view photos from the event .. back to top Time Running Out to Prevent AHSA 'Dropout Disaster' A 100-page manual for parents, children, advocates, and attorneys, The Right to Special Education in New Jersey is a comprehensive resource tool written by the Education Law Center (ELC) and printed by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation. Ten thousand copies of the newly updated manual are now in print and electronic versions are also available. Read more about the results of the AHSA and the graduation crisis ... back to top Turning Around Our Schools Through Community Recovery and Reinvestment On April 14, a coalition of Newark students, teachers, parents, and community members took to the streets to call for transparency in the School Improvement Grants (SIG) application process. The coalition of organizations and individuals has since been dubbed the United Front to Defend Public Education (UFDPE). Read more about SIG and UFDPE .... back to top   News Round-Up Commissioner Bret Schundler Addresses Local Crowd and Protestors About Controversial Education Initiatives And the Children Shall Lead -- New Jersey Students Fight Back Guest Opinion: Gov. Christie's 'Trickle-Down' Budge Towns Challenge New Jersey Voters' Wishes African-American Rights Groups Blast Gov. Chris Christie's Decision to Replace Justice Wallace Schools, PTA Sue California Over Education Funding back to top   "At its core, a constitutionally adequate education is one that will prepare public school children for a meaningful role in society, enable them to compete effectively in the economy and contribute and participate as citizens and members of their communities." Abbott v. Burke IV