Funding New Jersey’s Future
Putting Students First. Strengthening Schools Together.
As the school year gets underway, NJDOE is excited to dive into a fall season of discussion, outreach, and learning with communities across the state. This work is part of a long-term effort to look carefully at New Jersey’s school funding system while recognizing that high costs are affecting families and districts right now. That means planning strategically for the future without using the long-term nature of this work as an excuse to wait. We are working with districts to identify responsible cost savings now, while keeping intact what matters most: a student-centered formula that reflects enrollment and student need, honors New Jersey’s constitutional obligation, accounts for local wealth and community capacity, and continues to affirm the importance of investing in our students.
Recent Highlights
State Education Strategic Plan announced. Following months of school visits and stakeholder conversations across the state, Commissioner Lily Laux shared NJDOE’s Strategic Plan, which reflects a clear charge: New Jersey already has some of the strongest schools in the country, but student experiences still vary too much by community and even within communities. The plan focuses on building a system where every student can receive a world-class education and be safe, supported, and successful, with priorities that span strong early foundations, the supports students need to participate fully in school, inspiring instruction, meaningful pathways after graduation, and the systems that make progress possible — including a strong educator workforce, stable and equitable funding, and better use of data.
Statewide Stakeholder Engagement Begins. As part of New Jersey's School Funding Outreach Project, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is offering multiple opportunities for New Jerseyans to learn about school funding and share their perspectives. Families, educators, students, school leaders, and community members are invited to join the conversation as NJDOE gathers feedback on what students need to learn, grow, and succeed; where challenges remain; and how New Jersey's school funding system can be more transparent, predictable, accountable, and responsive.
Whether participating in a public forum, community roundtable, or survey, stakeholders will have the opportunity to learn more about how schools are funded, hear from NJDOE staff, answer survey questions, and share their experiences and perspectives. Feedback gathered through these efforts will help inform public summaries, future reports, and continued school funding outreach.
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Regional Public Forums: Regional and virtual forums will provide participants with an opportunity to offer public comments for up to three minutes. All feedback shared will be recorded and thoughtfully considered as part of this outreach effort. Registration for regional public forums is now available on the NJDOE Events webpage.
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Community Roundtables: Community roundtables will provide participants with an opportunity to engage in facilitated discussions, share their experiences and perspectives, and learn from others in a collaborative setting. Registration for community roundtables will be added to the events page on a rolling basis.
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Survey: Stakeholders will soon be able to share their perspectives through an online survey. Survey feedback will be used alongside input gathered through public forums and community roundtables to inform public summaries, future reports, and ongoing outreach efforts. This link will be available on the NJDOE's website and include in a future newsletter.
Office of School District Fiscal Oversight (OSDFO) created. NJDOE’s new Office of School District Fiscal Oversight (OSDFO) was approved by the State Board of Education on September 9, 2026. The office will strengthen NJDOE’s capacity in working with school districts earlier when fiscal concerns begin to emerge, before those challenges become mid-year disruptions for students, families, and educators. NJDOE will partner with districts to better understand the issues, plan sustainable solutions, and support fiscal stability over time. This approach is intended to protect students from program disruption, support local decision-making, and reduce the need for emergency stabilization aid, state monitors, or other costly interventions. By using data earlier and more effectively, the new office will help strengthen responsible fiscal stewardship and educational stability across New Jersey.
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