The State Board of Education on February 1 granted Acting Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy’s request for a three-month extension to fulfill a directive to analyze—and develop changes to—New Jersey’s current school finance system as it applies to all school districts. The new reporting date is in June.

The initial directive to study the finance system was part of the state board’s decision last month in Bacon, et al. vs. New Jersey Department of Education. In that case, the state board concluded that New Jersey’s current school funding system—the Comprehensive Educational Improvement and Financing Act (CEIFA)—failed to provide a constitutionally required “thorough and efficient” education in the 17 poor, mostly rural school districts that brought the suit.

Broadened Scope  The board’s action to broaden the scope of the decision beyond the plaintiff school districts arose from its concern over the state’s failure to use its existing funding formulas since 2001. As a result, all school districts have been negatively affected by significant shortfalls in state aid, the board stated on January 4. Moreover, the board also viewed its directive as the first step toward developing a unified funding system for public education that would provide a thorough and efficient education in terms of content and financing. 

In addition to the study of the school funding system, the January 4 decision directed the commissioner to issue reports on educational programming in the plaintiff school districts. The two reports, due in May, will involve a proposal and timetable for an assessment of educational program needs in the plaintiff school districts, as well as the results of “remedial measures” previously ordered in four of the school systems.

The commissioner will also provide a written update on the progress of the studies by mid-April.