Before we modernize the funding formula,
let’s fix how New Jersey decides it.
Fully funding SFRA in FY2025 was a real milestone, and it also exposed how outdated the process behind the formula still is. Before we review the math, three fixes make every other potential update possible.
Find out what school actually costs
NJ hasn’t genuinely re-examined its cost assumptions in years; it has just adjusted old dollar figures for inflation. Commission a current study of what it truly costs to educate a child in NJ today, including mental health support, multilingual learner services, and technology & cybersecurity.
Give Communities a Permanent Seat
Create a standing student & community advisory board with a formal role in every formula decision, with dedicated seats for high-poverty, rural, and tax-burdened suburban districts, so decisions aren’t made about communities without them in the room.
Tell Districts Their Aid Early
Give districts more time to plan their budgets by supporting S2650/A3881, which requires the State to release preliminary aid numbers by early December (months before districts learn them today), plus a public online portal showing exactly how every district’s aid was calculated.