Attorney General Zulima V. Farber on April 7 applied to the state Supreme Court for approval of Governor Corzine’s 2006-07 school funding recommendations for the 31 Abbott districts.

The governor’s budget would distribute $4.253 billion to the Abbott school districts, including $500 million in supplemental funding and $243 million in pre-school expansion aid, according to the administration. The $243 million in pre-school aid represents a $39 million increase from last year.  However, overall aid to the Abbott districts—like that for all other districts—is essentially frozen.

Aid to Abbott districts is dictated by a series of Supreme Court decisions.  Therefore, the governor needs to obtain judicial approval for the proposed 2006-07 funding levels.

Lid on Increases  “In light of the dire fiscal circumstances of the state and the high per pupil spending already in existence in the Abbott districts, the Governor could not permit another year of open-ended increases for Abbott districts,” Zulima wrote in her brief.

“Other school districts, almost all of which spend less per pupil than the Abbott districts and some of which have similar student populations, are receiving no increases in aid,” she stated.  “In fact, it is this very problem that the Governor is committed to addressing through the adoption of a new funding formula – a formula that is child-focused rather than district-focused. That too, however, will take time.”

Historic Progress The state’s motion is opposed by the Education Law Center, which represents the student plaintiffs in the 31 Abbott school districts.

“We will vigorously defend the right of these students to a high quality education, which will be seriously undermined if the Governor is allowed to make cuts in critically needed programs and staff,” said David Sciarra, ELC executive director.  “The Governor’s education cuts come at a time when we’re just beginning to make progress in our urban schools, after over 50 years of neglect. These cuts will stop that historic progress in its tracks.”