Since 2018, I have watched schools across New Jersey get stripped of their state aid, resulting in children losing access to essential academic opportunities, clubs, transportation, and sports that are crucial for their holistic development and mental health. Schools have also lost their teachers through reductions in force, which have pushed class sizes to an overwhelming 30+ students per classroom. This not only affects the quality of education but also hinders teachers' ability to effectively engage with each student.

The current New Jersey school funding formula has proven to be detrimental to our community's educational facilities. Schools are now financially overburdened, frequently leading to substantial local tax increases for residents and heartbreaking staff layoffs. This undue financial stress does not solve the underlying issues but merely transfers the burden onto families and educators in our community.  The funding formula itself must be updated to reflect real-world costs and district needs. This includes revisiting outdated cost assumptions, accounting for enrollment volatility and demographic shifts and establishing a baseline level of funding that protects essential services such as classroom instruction, special education, transportation, and core extracurricular programs.

A revised and transparent funding formula should allocate funds based on the specific needs of each school district, taking into consideration the number of students, special programs required, and the socio-economic factors of the community. However, this must be done without forcing districts into a no-win situation: slashing the quality of education or imposing crushing property tax hikes.  To ensure school districts can do long-term planning, no State aid cut shall require a school district to increase residential property tax revenue per household by more than two percent above inflation just to maintain the prior-year’s per-pupil spending. The state should also provide multi-year aid projections and align its budget guidance with district timelines so school leaders can plan responsibly rather than operating in survival mode each budget cycle.

By prioritizing a more equitable distribution of resources and avoiding catastrophic cuts, New Jersey can ensure that all children have access to quality education, regardless of their zip code.

We urge the New Jersey Department of Education, State Legislators, and the Governor to take immediate action by convening the Assembly and Senate Education Committees to revise the school funding formula. An independent working group made up of educators, school business administrators, and financial experts should be convened to ensure transparency, accuracy and accountability.  By  recognizing fixed operational costs and ensuring a fair, predictable distribution of resources, the state can stabilize school budgets while protecting educational quality and taxpayers alike.

Our students deserve better, and by signing this petition, you are voicing support for a fair, sustainable, and just restructuring of the school funding system in New Jersey. Your signature is a step toward ensuring that every child receives the education they deserve.