Abbott v. Burke "may be the most significant education case since the Supreme Court's desegregation ruling nearly 50 years ago."
New York Times, February 2002

Abbott is "one of the most remarkable and successful efforts by any court in the nation to cut an educational break for kids from poor families and generally minority-dominated urban neighborhoods."
New Jersey Lawyer, October 2001

     Education Law Center (ELC) served as attorneys for the plaintiff-class of over 300,000 school-age children and 60,000 preschoolers in the Abbott v. Burke case. These predominately low-income and minority students and youngsters attend public schools and preschools in 31 poor urban communities across New Jersey.

     In the landmark Abbott IV (1997) and Abbott V (1998) rulings, the New Jersey Supreme Court ordered a set of education programs and reforms widely recognized to be the most fair and just in the nation. The Abbott "education adequacy" framework includes:

• Rigorous content standards-based education, supported by per-pupil funding equal to spending in successful suburban schools
• Universal, well-planned and high quality preschool education for all three- and four-year olds
• Supplemental ("at-risk") programs to address student and school needs attributed to high-poverty, including intensive early literacy, small class size and social and health services
• New and rehabilitated facilities to adequately house all programs, relieve overcrowding, and eliminate health and safety violations
• School and district reforms to improve curriculum and instruction, and for effective and efficient use of funds to enable students to achieve state standards
• State accountability for effective and timely implementation, and to ensure progress in improving student achievement

     The goal of the Abbott programs and reforms goal is to give every child the opportunity to attain "his or her own place as a contributing member in society with the ability to compete with other citizens and to succeed in the economy." Abbott IV (1997).

     Education Law Center continues to advocate for improvements in student achievement by working to hold the State, districts and schools accountable for effective implementation of the Abbott programs and reforms.