School Funding Formula Needs Reform, 9th District Says

9th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, NJ — Legislators are calling for reforms to the state's school funding formula, saying that it is "failing too many students."

Sen. Carmen Amato, Asm. Brian Rumpf and Asm. Greg Myrhe submitted testimony to the Senate Education Committee recently on what they called one of the state's most pressing issues.

" As evidenced by the crippling funding cuts imposed on school districts, the state's school funding formula, referred to as S-2 by many in the education community, must be reformed in the interest of ensuring that a thorough and efficient education is provided to every student in New Jersey's public education system," the delegation said.

In their testimony, the three noted that they had reached out to Gov. Phil Murphy on this topic recently specifically in regards to the Lacey Township School District, which has lost $13.7 million in school funding since the current formula was enacted. Read more: $3.2M State Aid Loss Is 'Devastating' To Lacey Schools: Officials

"Our efforts were at the request of the Lacey Township Public School Superintendent in effort to avert the impending crisis in the school district," they testified. "Our Delegation would be remiss that a significant number of other school districts in our legislative district also face the enactment of draconian cuts due to the loss of funding this year."

These cuts have had "a profoundly debilitating impact on the delivery of education services," the testimony says.

You can read the full written testimony here.