Bill
Bill > S3442
NJ S3442
NJ S3442Requires upcoming Educational Adequacy Report to include comprehensive review of certain components of school funding in consultation with certain stakeholders and experts.
summary
Introduced
02/09/2026
02/09/2026
In Committee
02/09/2026
02/09/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the upcoming Educational Adequacy Report to be developed in consultation with certain education stakeholders and school finance experts. Under current law, an Educational Adequacy Report is required to be issued every three years by the Governor, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education. The purpose of the report is to update the various parameters used to calculate State aid to school districts, including the base per pupil amount, various grade level and student characteristic weights, preschool education per pupil amounts, security and transportation aid cost coefficients, excess cost and classification rate assumption for census-based special education funding, and extraordinary special education aid thresholds. The requirements established under the bill would apply to the next upcoming Educational Adequacy Report that is to be issued by September 1, 2025. Specifically, the bill requires the Governor, in consultation with the commissioner, to engage a diverse group of stakeholders, including school administrators, staff, students, parents, and other community members, to identify the necessary school resources and student supports that are not adequately funded through the State school funding formula. In addition, the bill requires the Governor and the commissioner to commission various school finance experts to recommend revisions to the methodologies used for the determination of various cost factors that are required to be updated under the Educational Adequacy Report.
AI Summary
This bill requires the upcoming Educational Adequacy Report, due by September 1, 2025, to be developed with broader input and expert analysis. The Educational Adequacy Report is a crucial document issued every three years that updates the figures used to calculate State aid for school districts, impacting things like the base amount of money given per student, extra funding for different grade levels or students with specific needs (like at-risk or bilingual pupils), and costs for security and transportation. Under this bill, the Governor, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, must now actively involve a diverse range of stakeholders, including school administrators, staff, students, parents, and community members, to identify school resources and student supports that are currently underfunded by the State's school aid formula. Additionally, the Governor and Commissioner are directed to hire school finance experts to recommend improvements to the methods used to calculate various cost factors, ensuring that the updated figures adequately support students in meeting the State's core curriculum standards and that preschool funding and transportation aid reflect actual district costs.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 02/09/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S3442 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S3500/3442_I1.HTM |
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