This bill proposes significant amendments to New Jersey's school funding law, particularly focusing on special education funding and the establishment of a Special Education Funding Review Task Force. Key changes include the deletion of references to the "State average classification rate" in the calculation of aid for special education services, which aims to streamline the funding process. The bill mandates the Department of Education to publicly disclose calculations for each category of aid payable to school districts, enhancing transparency. It also emphasizes the state's constitutional obligation to provide a thorough and efficient education for all children, advocating for a new funding formula that considers enrollment changes and the unique characteristics of student populations, particularly those with high concentrations of at-risk students.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new calculation method for extraordinary special education aid, ensuring that districts receive State aid equal to 75 percent of costs exceeding $40,000 for public school programs or $55,000 for private school programs. It establishes protections against significant reductions in State aid for districts in municipalities with higher tax rates and below-adequacy spending, while eliminating previous requirements for independent studies and additional categorical aid applications. The legislation also creates the Special Education Funding Review Task Force to evaluate current funding effectiveness and explore a tier-based funding model, with a requirement for public input and a final report within one year. Overall, the bill aims to enhance funding stability and equity for school districts, particularly those serving students with disabilities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:7F-5, 18A:7F-44, 18A:7F-46, 18A:7F-51, 18A:7F-55, 18A:7F-68, 18A:7F-69