How Little Silver, Oceanport Fared In Latest State Aid Funding For Schools

LITTLE SILVER, NJ — Little Silver school district will see a $26,000, three-percent reduction in state aid from Trenton for the upcoming 2026-'27 school year.

School funding amounts were revealed this week in Gov. Mikie Sherrill's proposed budget for next year.

Little Silver public schools will get $844,000 for next year, compared to $870,000 it got this year. Oceanport, however, will get a six-percent increase in state aid: It will get $1.08 million for next year, compared to the $1.02 it got this year. Students from Little Silver go to Red Bank Regional for high school, and students from Oceanport go to Shore Regional.

Both regional high schools will enjoy six-percent funding increases: Red Bank Regional is slated to get $2.2 million from the state, an increase from the $2.1 million it got this year. Monmouth Regional also got a six-percent funding increase in Sherrill's budget, getting $2.1 million for next year compared to the $1.9 million it got this year.

You can see the '26-'27 funding here: datawrapper.de/_/ZaesE/

Gov. Sherrill said this week she wants to see more consolidation of New Jersey public school districts: Sherrill Proposes Record Education Funding In NJ, Along With Consolidation

State aid funding for school districts always fluctuates. One way the state determines school funding is based on the size of the district, current enrollment and whether enrollment is predicted to grow or shrink. It's important that school districts know how much money they are getting from the state as they prepare their budgets for next year.

Continual, year-over-year reductions in state aid can mean school districts have to lay off teachers, eliminate sports and clubs and — in extreme cases — even close schools, which the neighboring Middletown school district is currently experiencing (it plans to close two elementary schools and a middle school starting in June). Large, suburban school districts in New Jersey have experienced reductions in state aid in recent years.