Some poor schools could
lose extra state help
(AP) • Wednesday,
July 6, 2005
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Twelve poor school
districts around the state would lose their extra state aid,
and one would qualify for additional money under legislation
introduced Wednesday.
The bill would tighten qualifications for
a school system to be designated an Abbott district, thus
qualifying it for extra state aid. State Education
Commissioner William Librera recommended the changes in May.
"The Abbott program is intended to help improve the
education in districts that can't support a first-rate
school system," said Sen. Robert J. Martin, a co-sponsor of
the measure. "That status isn't meant to be permanent. It's
a positive sign that, in the commissioner's judgment, 12
districts have made sufficient progress that state subsidies
can be reduced."
The Abbott districts derive their name
from the landmark Abbott v. Burke court rulings, which
require the state to provide extraordinary help to improve
the poorest schools. Currently, 31 districts get extra help,
including having the state fund pre-kindergarten classes and
school construction projects.
Under the bill, 12 districts would be
taken off the list and one would be added, saving the state
more than $400 million a year, according to a statement by
Martin and co-sponsor Sen. Joseph M. Kyrillos. Districts
that would be removed from the list are: Burlington City,
Garfield, Gloucester City, Harrison, Hoboken, Jersey City,
Long Branch, Millville, Neptune, Pemberton Township,
Phillipsburg
and Vineland.
The regional Penns Grove-Carneys Point
district in Salem County would be added to the list,
according to Mike Jennings, spokesman for the Senate
Republicans.
In a related development, acting Gov.
Richard J. Codey signed legislation Saturday providing
additional state aid to school districts bordered by the
state's poorest districts. The law creates a new category of
state aid for districts bounded by three or more Abbott
districts.
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