This record shows that the educational needs of students in poorer urban districts vastly exceeds those of others, especially those from richer districts…Those needs go beyond educational needs, they include food, clothing and shelter, and extend to lack of close family and community ties and support, and lack of helpful role models. They include the needs that arise from a life led in an environment of violence, poverty, and despair.
Abbott v. Burke, 1990

      …students in the special needs districts have distinct and specific requirements for supplemental educational and educationally-related programs and services that are unique to those students, not required in wealthier districts, and that represent educational costs not included within the amounts expended for regular education.
Abbott v. Burke, 1994

     In Abbott II, Abbott III, and Abbott V, the NJ Supreme Court recognized what educators have known for a long time-children who are hungry, sick or lack basic family and neighborhood support systems are at risk of educational failure. To address these needs and to ensure academic success, the Court ordered the State to implement a package of additional supplemental programs and services. In Abbott V, the Court set forth in detail the specific programs that must be implemented in Abbott districts and schools and established a process through which additional programs and services, funded by the State, can be added if the need is clearly demonstrated.

Required Programs

• Well-planned, high quality preschool for all three and four year old children
• Full day kindergarten
• Family support teams in elementary schools and service coordinators in secondary schools to address social and health needs
• Intensive daily reading instruction in classes of 15 with 1:1 tutoring for underachieving students in grades K-3
• Parent involvement coordinated by a full-time parent liaison
• Enhanced technology, one computer per five students and two full time staff
• Violence prevention and school security, based on demonstrated need
• Middle and high school alternative education and school-to-work and college transition programs
• Middle and high school drop-out prevention programs with a full-time coordinator

Enhanced and/or Additional Programs as Needed

     In Abbott V, the Supreme Court recognized that the mandated supplemental programs may not be enough to close the achievement gap, and granted individual schools and districts the right, "based on demonstrated need, to request the resources necessary to enable them to provide on-site social services that either are not available within the surrounding community or that cannot effectively and efficiently be provided off-site." If districts clearly demonstrate a need, the Court ordered that the State "shall approve" plans for supplemental services and "shall provide or secure" necessary funding. These supplemental programs may include the following types of services.

• On-site health and social service clinics
• Instructionally-based after school programs
• Academic summer school programs
• Enhanced nutrition programs
• Enhanced and/or additional standards-based, supplemental, bilingual and special education programs