Judge Peter Doyne just issued his ruling on whether or not Christie’s 2010-2011 $1 billion cut in education aid violated NJ’s constitutional mandate to provide a thorough and efficient education system. Judge Doyne, appointed by the Court as a Special Master charged with reviewing evidence, ruled that, in fact, the cuts fell too heavily on poor urban districts. From the ruling:
Despite spending levels that meet or exceed virtually every state in the country, and that saw a significant increase in spending levels from 2000 to 2008, our ‘at risk’ children are now moving further from proficiency.
Here’s Education Law Center’s press release.
New Jersey Newsroom quotes Assemblyman Lou Greenwald, who praised the ruling and noted, “[i]f the court accepts these findings, the governor’s budgeting philosophy will be further called into question.”
For counterpoint, here’s Senator Tom Kean:
Judge Doyne’s report proves that money is not the problem for chronically failing school districts in New Jersey. His assertion that the former Abbott (the 31 poor) districts are moving ‘further from proficiency’ despite spending more per pupil than almost every other state in America is a condemnation of education policies that favor money over accountability and innovation.
The case now goes before the Supreme Court.
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Here is the oddity about this decision:
Many students at Abbott districts have not been getting a T&E education for years, yet the court can't just simply raise the question on, or mandate an order for, accountability along with their decision. A simple law that mandates an account for every single penny does not come to anyone's mind? Come on!
My district, Plainfield, is proposing a $153 million budget, checking it line by line one comes accross lines that one wonders "Why this and how is this going to benefit the children?".
This is not about the children getting a T&E, it is about keeping the status quo. Those of us who truly advocate for the children see how the state is failing them, not in the economic side so much but rather in having cojones to demand meaningful accountaibility for every dollar it hands out to any school district.