New school funding formula stirs criticism before it's even public Tuesday, December 19, 2006 • BY JOHN MOONEY • Star-Ledger Staff The early math on a new school funding formula shows some lower- to middle-class districts getting big state aid increases next year and urban ones receiving little or no increases, according to officials familiar with the work. But long before the proposal is unveiled, the developing plan is taking hard hits from school officials and interest groups who contend it would shortchange education statewide. And a few leading legislators yesterday cautioned the plan may not be ready for 2007-08 school budgets. "That's the goal, but we are going to take our time and do it thoroughly," state Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts (D- Camden) said yesterday. "As everyone knows, this is immensely complicated." The state's Democratic Party chairman was less optimistic about the proposal's short-term prospects following a criticism-filled hearing last night on the state's process. The plan would need to be finalized in time for Gov. Jon Cor zine's budget address in late winter. "Not a chance," said state Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D- Union). The school funding change is part of the state's broader effort to ease property taxes and provide aid more equitably. The New Jersey Department of Education plans to make public its proposed aid for mula after the holidays. Officials continue to estimate it could cost as much as $1 billion more from New Jersey coffers. Staying mum about the details and how the additional aid would be funded, Corzine and state Education Commissioner Lucille Davy have stressed the new formula would provide aid based on the specific needs within districts. They said it would give extra weight to students in special-education and limited-English programs or living in poverty. Under early calculations made this fall, several sources who spoke anonymously because the process is ongoing said the formula could mean big winners in middle-income districts like Clifton and West Orange that have been squeezed in previous years. Those districts could get twice or three times the aid they now receive. Urban districts falling under the state's Abbott v. Burke school equity rulings, which have seen the vast bulk of the increases over the last five years, would see little or no additional aid, they said. Advocates and others have been told the new aid package also would include about $100 million more for expanded preschool programs in non-Abbott districts. At a recent meeting with child advocates, members of the Corzine administration said the plan would extend the Abbott mandates of two years of preschool to nearly 80 of the state's poorest districts. "They were very hopeful and excited about it," said Cecilia Zal kind, director of the Association for Children of New Jersey. "I don't know if it would mean all this year or over the next several years. It would take some time to imple ment." Still, many of the details appear to be in flux, as some legislators say disproportionate increases to individual districts would be a hard sell politically and the new money may need to be phased in. The biggest money would be to districts bordering the Abbott cities, many of which face the same is sues of poverty as their urban neighbors but have not seen any additional aid for the last several years. "You need to balance it," said state Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex). "The bulk of the increases would go to the rim districts, but to go two or three times more what they're getting now, that leaves a lot of others wanting the money, too." Also, the formula, based on models still being developed by the state, face tough criticism from school organizations and advocates, including during several hearings held yesterday. At those hearings at Kean University and Burlington County College, as well as several locations by videoconference, speakers slammed the proposed models that would set a foundation amount for school spending and then add money based on individual children's needs. At the Kean hearing, the criticisms were echoed among urban and suburban representatives alike. "These are based on cookie-cutter models that bear little resemblance to any of our communities," said Rosie Grant, program director for the Paterson Education Fund. The president of one Union County school board said all the talk of "adequate" school spending has left out an important ingredient. "Quality is way down the list of priorities as the Legislature rushes to pass bills," said Ann Bushe, president of the Summit school board. "Why are we not talking about quality?" John Mooney may be reached at jmooney@starledger.com or (973) 392-1548. © 2006 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with permission.