For More Information Contact:

David G. Sciarra
973-624-1815, ext. 16

For Release: June 10, 2003

NEWARK – Twenty-three (23) Abbott districts are appealing decisions by the Department of Education (DOE) to reduce their 2003-04 budgets. The appeals have already been assigned to an Administrative Law Judge and will be handled on an expedited schedule set by the Supreme Court.

The appeals challenge budget reductions made by the DOE and announced on May 30^th in letters to the districts. The DOE is seeking to impose, for a second straight year, a budget cap on the Abbott districts. In their appeals, the districts contend that the cap will result in the loss of needed programs, services and positions. The DOE has asked the Supreme Court to authorize the cap, but that request is opposed by ELC.

The districts filing appeals are: Asbury Park, Burlington City, Camden, East Orange, Elizabeth, Gloucester City, Harrison, Irvington, Jersey City, Keansburg, Millville, Neptune, New Brunswick, Newark, Orange, Passaic, Paterson, Pemberton, Phillipsburg, Plainfield, Pleasantville, Trenton and Vineland. These districts requested "supplemental" programs and funds, and had their budgets reduced by DOE.

Two other districts – Long Branch and Garfield – did not appeal. The DOE approved the budgets of the five remaining districts – Bridgeton, Perth Amboy, West New York, Union City and Hoboken. These districts did not request supplemental programs and funds in their budgets.

ELC serves as counsel to the 350,000 three-year old to twelfth graders who attend preschools and schools in the 30 Abbott districts. More information on Abbott is available on our website.