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The Ocean City School District in New Jersey will receive a modest increase in state aid for the 2025-26 school year. According to numbers released by the state, the district will see a 2.96% increase, totaling $4,901,410 in state aid. Additionally, Ocean City will receive $934,333 in preschool aid. This increase is slightly smaller than the average 6% increase that most other districts in the state will receive.
Governor Phil Murphy's administration announced the state aid allocations as part of the 2025-26 budget, which marks the second year of fully funding the K-12 school funding formula under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008. The formula was modified in 2017 by legislation known as S2, which aimed to rebalance school funding across New Jersey by reducing adjustment aid for some districts and increasing aid for others.
Patch reports that the state has made efforts to eliminate drastic changes in state aid allocations to ensure more stability for school districts. The changes are part of Governor Murphy's commitment to improve predictability in school funding, a move welcomed by educators and advocates.
According to NorthJersey.com, nearly 68% of New Jersey's school districts will see increases in aid, while 31% will experience decreases. The state budget for K-12 education totals $12.1 billion, representing a significant increase since Murphy took office in 2016.
The new budget proposal also includes updates to the funding formula, taking into account factors such as district income, enrollment, and special education needs. These updates aim to provide a more accurate reflection of district costs and needs.
NJ Spotlight News notes that the proposed budget allows for certain districts to raise school taxes above the current 2% cap, providing additional state aid to those that demonstrate eligibility. The details of this provision are still being finalized.