This bill aims to provide supplemental appropriations to certain school districts in New Jersey to ensure they receive adequate funding for special education categorical aid, security categorical aid, and transportation aid for the 2024-2025 school year. Specifically, it allows for appropriations from the Property Tax Relief Fund to ensure that the amounts of these aids are equal to those calculated under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008. To qualify for this additional aid, a school district must have experienced a reduction in State school aid in both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years and must be spending below the adequacy threshold as defined by current law.

The bill emphasizes the need for temporary assistance to prevent significant budget cuts that could adversely affect educational quality for students in these districts. It acknowledges the ongoing issues with the State school aid system, which has led to inequities in funding, particularly for districts deemed underfunded. The sponsors of the bill believe that while a permanent solution is necessary, this immediate relief is crucial to uphold students' constitutional rights to a thorough and efficient education. The bill is consistent with previous legislative efforts aimed at addressing the inadequacies of the current school funding system.