http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080119/NEWS/801190486/1001
Under New Jersey's old funding formula, charter schools were not entitled to Abbott funds -- aid that went to the state's 31 historically poor districts. "That was something we thought was extremely unfair because charter schools are serving the same kids," said Jessani Gordon, executive director for the New Jersey Charter Public Schools Association. New legislation requires that 90 percent of what used to be considered Abbott aid follow each child to their charter school. The new formula eliminates the Abbott distinction and spreads the funding for low-income pupils among non-Abbott districts as well. Charter schools then receive 90 percent of that funding for each pupil. Nearly 80 percent of the New Jersey's charter schools are located in Abbott districts, which means all of those charter schools will receive more state funding under the new formula. Those schools in districts with a lower concentration of low-income pupils are not sure what the changes mean for them. "I don't know what is going to happen to these suburban districts that do not have a high percentage of (low income) kids," said Gordon. "It's very nerve-wracking. I have a lot of school leaders who are just not sleeping until they find out how this is going to impact them."
Source: Home News Tribune
Date: 01/19/2008
Note: Please be aware that online publishers often change URLs or no longer provide access to articles after 7 days. If the above link no longer works, access the publishing newspaper and search the archives for the keywords in the subject matter. Good luck.
