The S2 Appropriations Rescue Act proposes a supplemental appropriation of $106.5 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the New Jersey Department of Education. This funding is designated for Emergency Supplemental Aid to school districts that meet specific eligibility criteria. To qualify, a district must have received less State school aid in the 2024-2025 school year than its adequacy budget, be allocated less than or equal to $19,000 per resident pupil, and either have received less or equal State school aid compared to the 2023-2024 school year or have received up to $200,000 more than that amount. The aid amount for each eligible district will be calculated by multiplying $250 by the number of resident pupils.

The bill addresses the financial challenges faced by numerous school districts in New Jersey, particularly those adversely affected by the funding changes introduced by P.L.2018, c.67. Over the past seven years, many districts have had to make significant cuts, including layoffs, reduced academic programs, and even school closures, to manage their budgets. This emergency funding aims to stabilize the financial situation of these districts, which span urban, suburban, and rural areas, ensuring that students continue to receive a quality education despite the ongoing budgetary pressures.