Civics 101: School Finance Formulas & the Limits of Executive Authority
This post addresses a peculiar ongoing power grab in New Jersey involving the state school finance formula. The balance of power between state legislatures and the executive branch varies widely across states, but this New Jersey example may prove illustrative for others as well. This post may make more sense if you take the time to browse these other two posts from the past few years.
In New Jersey, as in many other states the State School Finance Formula is a state statute. That is, an act of the legislature. State school finance formula statutes may vary in the degree of detail that they actually lay out in statutory language, including varying the precision of which specific numbers must be used in the calculations and in some cases specifically how the calculations are carried out. It is my impression that until recently, many state school finance statutes have been articulated in law with greater and greater precision – meaning also less
- Student Enrollment Counts and State School Finance Formulas
- Twisted Truths and Dubious Policies: Comments on the Cerf School Funding Report
In New Jersey, as in many other states the State School Finance Formula is a state statute. That is, an act of the legislature. State school finance formula statutes may vary in the degree of detail that they actually lay out in statutory language, including varying the precision of which specific numbers must be used in the calculations and in some cases specifically how the calculations are carried out. It is my impression that until recently, many state school finance statutes have been articulated in law with greater and greater precision – meaning also less
