PLEASE SIGN THE OC/OS PETITION!
FUND THE FORMULA IN FY 2011!
[SIGN
PETITION]
The School Funding Reform Act (SFRA), which sets
levels of state aid for NJ school districts, was
passed by the NJ Legislature in January 2008, and
was upheld by the NJ Supreme Court in May 2009. Both
the law and the best interests of NJ public school
children require that it be fully funded in fiscal
year 2011!
Because the increase in state aid required by the
SFRA is based on the consumer price index, and
because the CPI is a very low 1.6%, it will take
only $60 million in additional aid to fully fund the
formula in FY2011. Most NJ districts would receive
flat funding or small increases, but it would
prevent devastating and unlawful cuts.
School districts need the levels of state aid
promised by the formula to meet rising costs,
maintain programs, keep class sizes manageable, and
provide NJ children and young people with an
education that will make them college and career
ready.
A strong State economy needs all NJ schoolchildren
to graduate from high school and become productive
and contributing members of society. Districts need
formula aid to do what it takes to keep young people
in school and to avoid teacher layoffs that harm
students and further swell the State’s unemployment
rolls.
The previous school aid formula wasn’t funded for
years. That’s a big reason NJ property taxes are so
high, and why state finances are a mess. The new
formula was enacted in part to reverse that
situation. The SFRA must be evaluated, as required
by law, and modified, but in the meantime it’s all
we’ve got. It has the stamp of approval of the
Legislature and the Court. It’s the law!
We, the undersigned, demand:
-
Full funding of the SFRA in the
FY2011 State Budget!
-
No decrease in state aid to any
school district in NJ in FY2011!
-
No decrease in the 4%
state-mandated cap on school budget increases!
-
A thorough review of the SFRA in
its third year, as required by law, and
appropriate cost adjustments to the formula!
Support NJ
schoolchildren! Fund the Formula in FY2011!
