TRENTON – Senator John H. Adler, a co-chair of the Joint Committee on Public School Funding Reform, today said “slowing spending, especially in the most expensive (school) districts,” is a key to achieving affordability and excellence in public education in New Jersey.
“I won’t support drastic cuts in spending for the poorest districts, but limits should be considered for our wealthiest districts,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill.
The State Supreme Court has ruled that the poorest districts in New Jersey, the 31 so-called Abbott Districts, must be funded at levels comparable to the wealthiest districts.
As the joint panel works toward considering a new school funding formula that won’t pit taxpayers against quality education, Senator Adler said, “If we slow school spending where it’s the highest, we can achieve both excellence and affordability.”
The joint legislative panel heard testimony today from two education experts, Molly A. Hunter, Director of the National Access Network at Teachers College at Columbia University, and Michael Griffith, an education finance consultant to the National Conference of State Legislatures.