P.O. Box 909 ● Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ● Phone: 609.695.7600 ● Fax: 609.695.0413 ● Web: www.njsba.org/PI

BACKGROUNDER: FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT
THE 2008 ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION

TRENTON, April 9, 2008—The following statistics and information will be helpful to reporters writing or broadcasting stories about the April 15 Annual School Election. The material represents the latest information available from the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) and the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE).

Districts conducting board-member elections in 2008 – 553

Districts conducting budget elections in 2008 – 549                     

Total school board seats statewide – 4,886

 

Polling hours – 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. is mandatory, although additional hours are frequently scheduled. Polls may be open anytime between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

 

Average length of service for N.J. local school board members:          

2007 – 6.81 yrs. 2003 – 6.41 yrs.

2006 – 6.70 yrs. 2002 – 6.34 yrs.        

2005 – 6.56 yrs. 2001 – 6.23 yrs.        

2004 – 6.43 yrs. 1995 – 5.90 yrs.

 

                                                                                                        

Voter Turnout in Annual School Elections—

2007 – 13.9%

2006 – 15.7%

2005 – 13.2%

2004 – 15.8%

2003 – 15.2%

2002 – 14.2%

2001 – 13.3%

2000 – 12.5%

1999 – 13.4%

 

 

1998 – 14.2%

1997 – 17.3%

1996 – 18.0%

1995 – 15.5%

1994 – 15.3%

1993 – 12.8%

1992 – 16.8%

1991 – 18.6%

 

 

1990 – 15.8%

1989 – 14.7%    

1988 – 15.2%

1987 – 10.1%

1986 – 11.5%

1985 – 7.34%

1984 – 10.1%

1983 – 15%

 

 

 

Registered Voters – 4,787,102 as of November 2007 (Source: N.J. Division of Elections)

 

Budget election results (percentage of budgets approved by voters statewide)—

                        2007 – 78.3%                                         1991 – 55.9%

                        2006 – 53.4%                                         1990 – 52.0%

                        2005 – 70.7%                                         1989 – 62.1%    

                        2004 – 69.8%                                         1988 – 71.3%    

                        2003 – 62.2%                                         1987 – 74.1%    

                        2002 – 65.4%                                         1986 – 82.4%    

                        2001 – 81.3%                                         1985 – 86.5%    

                        2000 – 88.0%                                         1984 – 76.9%                

                        1999 – 82.8%                                         1983 – 74.8%                

                        1998 – 74.4%                                         1982 – 67.9%                

                        1997 – 76.2%                                         1981 – 63.8%                            

                        1996 – 67.8%                                         1980 – 70.1%    

                        1995 – 72.3%                                         1979 – 76.9%    

                        1994 – 51.4%                                         1978 – 82.4%    

                        1993 – 68.9%                                         1977 – 80.4%    

                        1992 – 73.4%                                         1976 – 44.4%    

                                                                                               

                                                                                               

Second-ballot finance question results ¾percentage of second-ballot finance questions approved by voters statewide (and total number of second questions on the ballot statewide, in parentheses)—

                        2007 –  45.9% (87)

                        2006 – 33.0%  (72)                                             2001 – 65.6%  (91)

                        2005 – 41.8%  (74)                                             2000 – 79%  (100)

                        2004 – 52.0%  (75)                                             1999 – 72.8%  (92)        

                        2003 – 33.7%  (89)                                             1998 – 55.8%  (104)                  

                        2002 – 47.5%  (99)                                             1997 – 66.5%  (176)      

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                   

Ratio of candidates to available school board seats*—

                        2007 – 1.34 to 1                                                2001 – 1.35 to 1

                        2006 – 1.41 to 1                                                2000 – 1.35 to 1

                        2005 – 1.36 to 1                                                1999 – 1.23 to 1           

                        2004 – 1.34 to 1                                                1998 – 1.43 to 1                                                                  

                        2003 – 1.29 to 1                                                1997 – 1.5 to 1 

                        2002 – 1.31 to 1                                                1996 – 1.48 to 1           

                        * Does not include write-in candidates

 

PUBLIC SCHOOL FACTS AND FIGURES

 

Enrollment statewide (Source: NJDOE)

2006-07 – 1,387,963                                           1995-96 – 1,195,728

2005-06 – 1,394,779                                           1994-95 – 1,174,252

2004-05 – 1,391,169                                           1993-94 – 1,151,607

2003-04 – 1,386,919                                           1992-93 – 1,130,560

2002-03 – 1,367,249                                           1991-92 – 1,109,796

2001-02 – 1,336,927                                           1990-91 – 1,089,646

2000-01 – 1,313,394                                           1989-90 – 1,090,396

1999-00 – 1,289,221                                           1988-89 – 1,093,776

1998-99 – 1,264,259                                           1987-88 – 1,106,819

                        1997-98 – 1,240,920                                           1986-87 – 1,120,949      

                        1996-97 – 1,218,570                                           1985-86 – 1,116,194

                                                                                               

                                                                                               

Public school buildings in New Jersey , 2006 – 2,430 (Source: NJDOE)

State aid for public schools, 2007-08 – $7.3 Billion (Source: NJDOE)

Number of full-time classroom teachers in New Jersey , 2006 – 110,964 (Source: NJDOE)

 

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The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of district boards of education, advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.

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