What We’re Hearing and What Comes Next
Since this outreach project began on September 18, NJDOE leaders have been listening and learning from school board members, educators, parents, students, policy leaders, and broader community members. NJDOE has held forums and community roundtables across the state, hearing directly from hundreds of residents through 19 in-person or virtual meetings, with over 1,000 attendees. These opportunities are being added on a rolling basis and will continue through December.
On October 23, the Steering Committee examined student needs, education costs, local resources, and clearer funding information. Members are hearing from local and national experts, reviewing research and expert recommendations, and will review collected stakeholder input from around the state. They will also help NJDOE identify recommendations ready for consideration and questions needing more evidence. NJDOE will publish research summaries, meeting summaries, and considerations after committee review.
Through December 2026: Continue gathering and reviewing feedback from surveys, meetings, forums, roundtables, and emails.
Early 2027: Publish a report describing what we heard, how that input informed proposed next steps, recommendations ready for consideration, and questions needing more research.
Further work in 2027: Study those questions to inform broader recommendations to the Legislature on school funding, student supports, managing costs, and accountability for taxpayer dollars.
If you are interested in participating in the various stakeholder engagement activities, please consider registering for a forum or public roundtable. See newly added events and past locations.
School Funding Formula – Did you know?
An adequacy budget is the State’s estimate of what a district needs to provide students with an education that meets New Jersey’s learning standards, not the district’s actual spending plan. It starts with a basic cost per student, then adjusts for enrollment, grade levels, student needs, and regional costs. This includes added funding for students from low-income families, multilingual learners, and special education services.
The approach grew from the research described in NJDOE’s 2007 report, A Formula for Success, which drew on panels of educators and school finance experts to identify needed staff, programs, and supplies and estimate their costs. The State reviews key parts of the formula through an Educational Adequacy Report every three years. Cost updates use newer salary and benefit information and changes in prices, and reflect evolving needs. For example, the State’s most recent Educational Adequacy Report recognizes that student mental health is now a basic cost of providing an adequate education. For the first time, the model includes a district-level social worker and psychologist and an additional $550 per student for mental health support, reflecting the need for all students to have access to these services.
The State compares this estimated cost with what the community is able to contribute through local taxes. It uses that information to calculate equalization aid—state funding that helps communities pay for their students’ education.
Learn the basics in School Finance 101, or visit NJDOE’s State Aid 101 for its overview.
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