On Nov. 4 we should find out who’ll move into the governor’s mansion — Mikie Sherrill or Jack Ciattarelli. Either one will be faced with the challenge of how to fund New Jersey’s public schools, especially in Newark, the biggest district in the state.
“There are a lot of funding challenges that still remain,” said Jessie Gomez, a reporter for the education website Chalkbeat. “We know that 84% of Newark public schools’ budget comes directly from state aid and so if there is a reform in the funding formula, as both candidates have proposed, that could impact how Newark does its business.”
Sherrill’s congressional district includes Essex County. She has pledged to invest in tutoring, student mental health, and equity in schools, largely continuing the policies of Governor Murphy. Gomez said Sherrill’s plan could mean more money for Newark.
“She’s calling for a modernizing of the current funding formula, so we know that the funding formula was written in 2008,” said Gomez. “If there are updates to it it could mean more money for Newark if the way that the formula calculates taxes changes.”
Ciattarelli has different plans, said Gomez. “When we look at his idea of changing the funding formula, he is suggesting setting a statewide standard for per-pupil spending,” she said, “so basically one set amount on how to educate a child in New Jersey.”
Gomez pointed out that that plan has its shortcomings since many students require special services that can be expensive.
Ciattarelli has also called for expanding charter schools and voucher programs.