Middletown School District Will Get 6 Percent More In State Aid For 2026-'27

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The Middletown School District will see a six percent increase in state aid from Trenton for the upcoming 2026-'27 school year.

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

MARSD will get $15,719,251 in state aid from Trenton for next year, a six percent increase of $889,769 from the $14,829,482 the district got this year. You can see the '26-'27 funding here: datawrapper.de/_/ZaesE/

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, a process the Middletown school district is currently in the middle of. The school district will present its 2026-'27 budget at the upcoming school board meeting March 24.

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 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. 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

Next Middletown School Board Meeting Will Be March 24