Woodbury Named One of the Top 25 Most Underfunded School Districts in New Jersey

Woodbury City Public Schools was recently named to the Top 25 Most Underfunded NJ School Districts list as reported by the Education Law Center, an organization dedicated to promoting fair and equitable school funding and effective school reform. 

The School Funding Reform Act (SFRA), implemented in the 2008-2009 school year, proved that many school districts, including Woodbury City Public Schools, were not receiving a fair share of funding from the State of New Jersey. At the time, the State indicated it would make up the shortfall with 20% increases to state aid until the gap closed. Unfortunately, each year since this formula was enacted, Woodbury City Public Schools, along with many other districts in the state, has been underfunded and the promise of the continued 20% increases did not materialize.  Currently, Woodbury City Public Schools is owed approximately $4.2 million under SFRA for the current 2013-2014 school year.

Woodbury City Public Schools has consistently expressed its need for these funds to help lessen the burden on taxpayers. Copies of documented actions taken to bring attention to this issue are available on the district’s website at http://www.woodburysch.com/businessoffice/State-Aid-Information1.cfm.   

“The underfunding of SFRA has been a focal point of concern for the Woodbury City Public Schools,” Superintendent Joseph Jones said. “The disproportionate calculation of the School Funding Reform Act negatively impacts Woodbury schools.  Since the inception of the new funding formula in 2008, the district has routinely been shorted millions of dollars in relation to what the formula determines should be the appropriate amount of state aid for the district.  This shortage of aid has occurred while other districts in the state are funded at much higher percentages – some fully funded.

“According to the SFRA, Woodbury City Public Schools has been due millions of additional dollars for each of the last six school years.  The failure of the state to provide these funds results in either the need for difficult decisions to be made to eliminate programs or the necessity to ask the Woodbury City taxpayer to shoulder a higher percentage of the budget.

“The Top 25 Most Underfunded School Districts in New Jersey list from the Education Law Center appropriately points out that the State’s promise of uniform, equitable, and stable funding for all school children based on need and without regard to zip code has not been delivered.”

Woodbury City Public School District, located in Woodbury, New Jersey, is a “Leader in Personalizing Education.” Our comprehensive curriculum, numerous Advanced Placement courses, AVID and Option II programs, outstanding athletic teams, and visual and performing arts department offer students from elementary school to high school with the opportunity for individual successes in and out of the classroom. Visit us at www.woodburysch.com.

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