SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1410

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 25, 2024

     The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 1410.

     This bill changes how special education aid to school districts is calculated.  Under the provisions of the “School Funding Reform Act of 2008,” P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.), the State provides special education aid to school districts using the census-based method.  Under this method, districts receive funding for special education based on the assumption that a fixed percent of the total student population requires special education services, rather than using the actual number of special education students to determine the amount of State aid that school districts will receive.

     This bill eliminates the use of the census-based methodology, and calculates State aid for special education based on the actual number of special education students included in the district’s resident enrollment.

     This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.