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Post by andrewd on Dec 3, 2007 9:45:17 GMT -5
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adefonzo
Junior Member
If I can see further than some, it's because I have stood on the shoulders of giants
Posts: 308
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Post by adefonzo on Dec 3, 2007 9:59:53 GMT -5
...and now as "citizen Andrew"... I especially loved the part towards the end where they say that "The Administration hope is to find approximately $450 million increasing operational state aid for education in FY09 to approximately $8.25 billion, though the Administration has not specified any funding source" This is a very telling sentence in my opinion. We already know that approximately 25% of the states budget goes to education (approx. half of that to the 31 Abbots). So now, when they keep talking about property tax relief and trying to find ways to cut spending, the Corzine Administration is going to, once again, spend more money on a problem rather than find ways to manage the money they already are spending in a more efficient manor. Take a look at this article... www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/NEWS0301/71129051...there is something in there that is one of the best examples of political nonsense I have ever seen. They say that they are going to eliminate the "Abbott" designation, but those districts are not going to lose any funding!!! So, we're still going to throw billions of dollars at them, but we're just not going to call them Abbotts anymore!!! I can't help but laugh when I read these things, it is so absolutely absurd!!! I hope...no I pray that I am missing something here. I pray that the folks in Trenton will think about this a bit more before pushing it through in a lame duck session (which is their current intent). As much as I want a new funding formula now...come on...let's use some common sense... The saddest part is that after 5+ years of flat funding, and a couple of years working on a new formula, this is the best that Trenton can come up with... UNBELIEVEABLE!!! |
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Post by fiberisgoodforyou on Dec 3, 2007 11:58:01 GMT -5
Andrew what do you expect from this "Robin hood" Administration in Trenton. You think the "MAJORITY" would would allow Defunding of their home districts, regardless of the performance. After all they are "entitled" to the money not accountable for the results. This new funding formula will add more red tape, more layers of UN-check oversight and will only continue to levée the burden on the homeowner/honest landlord. We see hints of this already SEE NEXT POST). I am almost ready to say lets all byte the bullet for the next 2 years when we get a new Governor, because this guy is planing on taking us from bad to worse! Fact is, it is the Urban Centers that have the Majority representation in Trenton, and there has been very little successful urban development in and major NJ city in decades (Jersey city and Hoboken aside), so state revenue is on the Backs of suburban minority representation. With this current formula Andrew, This state either MUST Mandate Serious Urban Renew projects that pull our urban centers up by the boot straps, and this will not happen any time soon, not with Corozin! When will people wake up to the fact that this guy is more horrific than Florio by leaps an bounds! At least Florio was honest about his intentions. When Corizin grows his hair back, is when NJ will return to economic health. REMEMBER, NJ HAS THE 2ND HIGHEST DEFICIT IN THE US, ONLY SURPASSED BY POST KATRINA LOUISIANA! ...and now as "citizen Andrew"... I especially loved the part towards the end where they say that "The Administration hope is to find approximately $450 million increasing operational state aid for education in FY09 to approximately $8.25 billion, though the Administration has not specified any funding source" This is a very telling sentence in my opinion. We already know that approximately 25% of the states budget goes to education (approx. half of that to the 31 Abbots). So now, when they keep talking about property tax relief and trying to find ways to cut spending, the Corzine Administration is going to, once again, spend more money on a problem rather than find ways to manage the money they already are spending in a more efficient manor. Take a look at this article... www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/NEWS0301/71129051...there is something in there that is one of the best examples of political nonsense I have ever seen. They say that they are going to eliminate the "Abbott" designation, but those districts are not going to lose any funding!!! So, we're still going to throw billions of dollars at them, but we're just not going to call them Abbotts anymore!!! I can't help but laugh when I read these things, it is so absolutely absurd!!! I hope...no I pray that I am missing something here. I pray that the folks in Trenton will think about this a bit more before pushing it through in a lame duck session (which is their current intent). As much as I want a new funding formula now...come on...let's use some common sense... The saddest part is that after 5+ years of flat funding, and a couple of years working on a new formula, this is the best that Trenton can come up with... UNBELIEVEABLE!!! |
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Post by fiberisgoodforyou on Dec 3, 2007 12:00:29 GMT -5
12-2-07 Governor's funding plan:summary of 11-30-07 presentation
Summary of Proposed School Funding Formula Revisions by the Governor, per 11-3-07 presentation:
(Courtesy of the Mayor’s School Funding Committee, 12-2-07)
For Academic Year 2008-09 or FY2009:
- Hold harmless for all school district's total state aid (does not apply for specific categorical funding areas)
- New funding adequacy model based on student needs (student characterisitcs, regardless of zip code) as determined by Professional Judgment Panel - replaces current CEIFA funding formula
Elementary students receive base amount (not released yet for FY09)
Middle school students receive base plus additional aid
High school students receive base plus additional aid
Vocational students receive HS amount plus additional aid
At-risk students definition is expanded from free lunch eligible to free and reduced rate lunch eligible
(185% of poverty)
At-risk students receive additional aid based on the expanded definition (sliding scale with important thresholds at 40% and 60%)
Limited English Proficient (LEP) students receive additional aid based on fixed weight
Combined At-risk and Limited English Proficient student receive an additional 1/4 LEP weight
Special Education Students receive aid based on a new census approach - flat amount per student based on average classification and average cost - partly paid for by adequacy model and partly paid for by categorical aid - reduces incentive to over-classify, provides predictable level of special education funding and minimizes administrative burdens
Special Education Extraordinary Aid provided at greater percentage and uses updated thresholds – provided as categorical aid (>$40,000 - 70% covered by State; >$55,000 - 75% covered by State; creates incentives for school districts to control costs)
Speech - uses statewide average classification rate for speech multiplied by district enrollment multiplied by excess cost of speech services
- Preschool aid is expanded to all at-risk 3 & 4 yr olds - applies to A, B and CD DFG districts with at least 40% at-risk (full-day Preschool required) and all at-risk 3 & 4 year olds statewide - phased in over time to ensure quality
- Median teacher salary was changed to mean salary teacher - increases overall teacher salary calculation
- Benefits revised calculation to reflect actual costs
- Security costs becomes categorical aid - expanded levels for high at-risk concentrations
- Adequacy model includes capital maintenance and other annual capital improvements - CEIFA did not include capital
- Geographic cost differences is updated by a new county-specific index using 2000 & 2005 census data
- Transportation aid provided using updated mileage and enrollment counts - pending updated work from
Executive County Superintendents
- As has been done under CEIFA, Local Fair Share determined by 50% equalized property value and 50% community income
- Since the release of the Report on the Cost of Education (Dec, 2006) the revised formula incorporates the advice of Allan Odden, Tom Corcoran, Susanna Loeb & David Monk - all national education finance experts to help develop fair, equitable and predictable funding formula for FY09
- The Administration hope is to find approximately $450 million increasing operational state aid for education in FY09 to approximately $8.25 billion, though the Administration has not specified any funding source
- The Administration did not provide clear information on the overall transition time to the new funding formula
- Detailed district-by-district results and aid numbers are expected within 10 days
- The Administration plans to seek the State Supreme Court's approval to amend the Abbott v. Burke rulings if this proposal is approved by the Legislature.
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