New Jersey Assembly Bill A443

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

Eliminates use of census-based funding of special education aid in school funding law.

Impact

The implications of A443 are substantial for state laws governing educational funding. By aligning special education funding more closely with actual student populations rather than estimates, school districts may receive the necessary financial resources to adequately support the needs of their students. This change is expected to reduce discrepancies in funding among districts, particularly benefiting those with higher populations of special education students who previously may have been underfunded due to reliance on the census-based model.

Summary

Assembly Bill A443 introduces a significant change in the funding mechanism for special education within New Jersey's school funding laws. The bill proposes to eliminate the existing census-based approach to funding special education aid, which assumes a fixed percentage of students require special education services. Instead, A443 mandates that state aid be calculated based solely on the actual number of special education students enrolled in each district. This shift aims to create a more accurate and equitable funding distribution across school districts, reflecting the specific needs of students requiring special education services.

Contention

While A443 is generally viewed positively by advocates for special education, there are notable points of contention surrounding its passage. Some stakeholders express concern that the transition away from a census-based funding model could lead to temporary disruptions in funding as districts adjust to the new calculations. Others worry about the potential for increased pressure on districts to manage their budgets more effectively, as the elimination of a buffer in funding based on census estimates may result in financial strain during the adjustment period.