West Orange Officials Push for Changes to NJ School Funding Formula Amid Millions in Aid Cuts
Reported byRLS Media
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Officials in West Orange, New Jersey, are asking Governor Mikie Sherrill and the state Legislature to make lasting changes to the School Funding Reform Act, the law that determines how state aid is distributed to districts. According to information released by the township, Mayor Susan McCartney brought Resolution 269-26 to the Township Council, and the council approved it unanimously at its October 13, 2026, meeting.
Township officials say West Orange Public Schools have lost tens of millions of dollars in state assistance even though enrollment has stayed fairly steady and costs for special education and other student services have grown. They point to two shifts beginning in the 2022-23 school year: the district's Local Fair Share figure rose 36%, while its Equalization Aid fell 37%. The township says this has put more pressure on local property taxpayers.
The resolution backs three reforms: capping how much state aid can be reduced in a single year, measuring a community's wealth with multi-year averages, and setting special education funding based on actual enrollment rather than estimates. Officials say these steps would reduce unpredictable cuts and help protect programs and services. The law dates to 2008 under Governor Jon Corzine and was amended in 2018 under Governor Phil Murphy. The article does not describe any response from the governor or lawmakers.
Why it matters
State aid formulas help determine how much of a district's budget falls on local property taxpayers. Families, staff and board members in West Orange and similar districts may want to follow whether the state changes how wealth and special education costs are counted.
- State funding formula
- State aid
- Special education services
- Property taxes
- State legislature
Written with AI from the publisher's article and may contain errors. The original reporting is the authoritative source.
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- How should a state aid formula balance a community's ability to pay with a district's actual costs?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of using multi-year averages instead of single-year figures to measure local wealth?
- How can a school board and local government plan budgets when state aid changes from year to year?
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