On July 28th, Governor Corzine will open a special session of the New Jersey legislature. The special session is intended to address high property taxes and school funding. The Governor recently signaled his expectations for the session including cutting the total property tax bill by 20%, rewriting the school funding formula so that middle income districts get more state aid, and tightening caps on education spending statewide. The Governor also wants to accelerate consolidation of towns and schools.

Tell legislators you want property tax reform AND a high quality education for all children. We are watching and we vote! On July 19th, parents, advocates, and elected officials went to the State House in Trenton to attend a hearing of the Joint Committee on the Public Schools. They carried binoculars and telescopes to send a clear message: "We want excellent public schools and relief from high property taxes. We are watching you!” Follow this link for the e-mail address of your state senator and assemblyperson and send them this message now.

It took a government shut down but the legislature and Governor finally agreed on a budget. The one cent increase in the sales tax was approved, but state aid for public education was held almost flat. And strong directives holding the Education Dept. accountable to urban school children were enacted.
 

SEOC: Abbott Parents Organize Independently for a Greater Voice: Since 2003, the Statewide Education Organizing Committee has provided a venue for parents, grandparents, and grassroots leaders in several Abbott districts to take a seat at the decision-making table. Groups in Newark, Jersey City, Plainfield, Asbury Park and Camden have formed district-wide organizations separate from school systems so that their independent voices can be heard.

Recently, New Jersey’s graduation rates were trumpeted in the press as the highest in the nation – 84%. Amidst a steady flow of negative publicity about public schools and the budget crisis, this announcement of good news was as welcome as a cool breeze on a hot summer day.

Unfortunately, the story is more complicated than it first appears and the news is not all good. While statewide graduation rates in New Jersey are reported to be above 80%, graduation rates in the urban Abbott districts are closer to 50%.

Rutgers Institute issues second report in its series on education funding and tax reform. Just in time for the legislature’s special session on property taxes and the school funding formula, the Institute on Education Law and Policy at Rutgers-Newark issued its second report in its series of three reports entitled Don't Forget the Schools. The second report, Don't Forget the Schools: Legal Considerations for Tax Reform, explains the constitutional and legal underpinnings of our state tax and education policy - including Robinson v. Cahill and Abbott v. Burke - and discusses current legal issues that must be addressed in connection with any efforts at reform. To access the report online, use the direct link below.

Friday, July 28, 9 a.m., Governor Corzine to address joint session of Legislature at opening of special session. To listen, go to www.njleg.state.nj.us and click on “View or Listen to Live Proceedings.”

Friday, August 4, 2006, 9 a.m., NJ NAACP Education Summit.
Rutgers University, Trayes Hall, Douglass College Student Center. Information: Janice Jackson Harris at 908-753-3920 or obeah125@aol.com.

August 2006: Special Legislative Committee on School Funding to begin meetings on new school funding formula. Check www.njleg.state.nj.us for updates.

Late August 2006: Governor’s Task Force on School Construction will release its final report on school construction reform and funding. Check Building Our Children’s Future website for details, www.njbocf.org.

October 6, 2006: Commissioner’s Abbott Accountability Plan and Budget to be released. Stay tuned to the ELC website for details, www.edlawcenter.org.