New Jersey's school funding system will be fully paid for the first time in fiscal year 2025, but some Garden State school priorities still require funding and prioritization, state education officials said.
Testifying at a Congressional Budget Committee hearing in Trenton on Wednesday, Acting Secretary of Education Kevin Demmer said Gov. Phil Murphy's budget proposal includes a number of steps to fund universal preschool, a priority of his administration. He pointed out that it also includes expansion.
Still, Demmer said there are still other funding issues facing New Jersey public schools. The governor's proposed budget cuts funding to the School Development Authority by $25 million.
However, the agency's director-general, Manuel da Silva, praised the state for continuing to work on projects identified in the 2022 capital plan, adding funds to the debt avoidance fund allocated to the agency two years ago. It pointed out that work on these projects is ongoing through the offer.
How much is the department going to get?
The Governor's proposed fiscal year 2025 budget includes $20.965 billion for the Department of Education. This is an increase of $1.045 billion or 5.2% compared to adjusted spending in 2024.
What will that money be used for?
The department is responsible for supporting more than 1.4 million students across the district and state. It also funds the continued expansion of preschool programs and charter schools, as well as the cost of teacher pensions, retirement health benefits, and Social Security payments. The proposed budget also includes funding for grant programs related to artificial intelligence and literacy programs.
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What was said?
Rep. Benji Wimberly asked Demmer what can be done to address learning loss, especially those exacerbated by the pandemic, as well as the need for teacher shortages and more minority teachers.
“There are some programs that are making some progress, but they are relatively small,” Demmer said. “I like to think outside the box and find new avenues for individuals to come in.”
The lawmaker, a Paterson Democrat whose congressional district includes two SDA school districts, asked da Silva about the aging schools used in the districts under the authority's jurisdiction.
“They are being used safely, but we need to talk about long-term planning,” da Silva said. He pointed out that there are about 8,000 students and more than 50 aging facilities that the authorities do not provide funding for.
Mr. Wimberly also asked why the SDA did not address all the issues identified in the master plan at once, but Mr. da Silva said there was a lack of human resources to complete all the projects at once rather than sequentially. He said it was because he was there.
Several lawmakers asked about this, which is the last year the state will phase in the new funding formula. Demmer said the S-2 program is good, but noted there are problems.
What's next?
The Congressional committee hearing was just the first stop for Mr. Demel and Mr. da Silva. They are scheduled to testify before a Senate committee next week. It will then be up to lawmakers to decide what that funding should be. They have until the end of June to finalize the budget and get it to Murphy's desk.
Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey State Legislature. Email: sobko@northjersey.com
