Three experts, retained by the New Jersey Department of Education to study its recent “Report on the Cost of Education,” are scheduled to release their reviews Jan. 19.

The subject of public hearings last month, the report defines the cost of a thorough and efficient education, which would be one part of a new school funding formula.

“We want to be sure that our results are supported by the latest research about the resources required to help all students succeed,” said Commissioner of Education Lucille E. Davy.

The consultants include:

• Allan R. Odden, a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin and co-director of the Consortium for Policy Research in Education at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research.
  
  
• Joseph Olchefske, managing director in the District Consulting Group at the American Institutes of Research.
  
  
• Lawrence O. Picus, a professor at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education and director of the USC Center for Research in Education Finance.

High Priority Establishing a new school finance system is on the Legislature’s list of priorities. New Jersey has not used its existing statutory funding formula, the Comprehensive Educational Improvement and Financing Act, since 2001-2002. Instead, levels of state education aid have been determined through the Legislature’s annual appropriations act. For the past five years, state aid to local school districts has remained generally stagnant.

Hearings/Resources Additional hearings on the “Report on the Cost of Education” are expected in January; details have not yet been announced. In addition, the education department is offering two other initiatives to gain input in the development of a school funding formula.