Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto announced that they have reached agreement on a school funding plan that provides $146 million in additional aid to underfunded districts and reallocates Adjustment Aid from districts receiving more than 100 percent of their fair share of full state funding.

According to a release issued jointly, the plan includes $100 million in new school aid for underfunded districts and $46 million in reallocated Adjustment Aid, plus $25 million to expand pre-school education.  The agreement reached by the legislative leaders caps Adjustment Aid cuts in affected districts at no more than 1.5 percent of their school budgets.

Kingsway Superintendent, Jim Lavender, said in a post to the Fair Funding Action Committee Facebook group, “When we started this fight no one ever thought a rural suburban school district from South Jersey would have influenced the direction of future school funding allocations. But, thanks to our collective community effort, we did in a very big way!!! Today I’m proud, and relieved, to announce that after months of blood, sweat and tears, a school funding fix is in the making. Trenton has heard our cries and has responded accordingly. Details to follow but state aid coming our way for the 2017-18 SY via new state aid dollars and adjustment aid reallocations. Growth caps to be eliminated. Remember, it has been growth caps and hold harmless adjustment aid that has unfairly punished districts like Kingsway. This is the beginning of what will be a permanent and sustainable solution to how state aid to public schools is allocated. A big victory for Kingsway’s students, taxpayers, and community-at-large! Go Dragons!!!”

Head to the Fair Funding Action Committee Facebook group get more information from those instrumental in this effort and to join the conversation.