Education Law Center is arguing that Gov. Chris Christie’s cuts to school funding violate the state's constitutional obligation to provide a 'thorough and efficient' education
TRENTON — Education advocates and state lawyers will face off before the state Supreme Court today in a hotly anticipated school funding case.
David Sciarra, executive director of the Newark-based Education Law Center, is arguing that Gov. Chris Christie’s cuts to school funding violate the state’s constitutional obligation to provide a “thorough and efficient” education. His argument was boosted by a report issued last month by Superior Court Judge Peter Doyne, who said budget cuts disproportionately hurt high-risk students.
The state has argued that it simply doesn’t have enough money to fully comply with the school funding formula approved by the court in 2009. It also criticized Doyne’s report as myopic, saying it has "no basis for any real conclusions."
A defeat for the state could be devastating for Christie’s $29.4 billion budget proposal. If the court orders it to comply with the school funding formula, the state will need to scramble to find $1.6 billion for education. That could lead to steep cuts in Medicaid, property-tax relief and municipal aid, according to the state treasurer.
The state’s legal team is being led by Peter Verniero, the former Supreme Court justice and former attorney general.
The spotlight is on the Supreme Court for other reasons too. Christie has aggressively sought to remake the state’s highest court, in part because he disagrees with its decisions on school funding. The court has traditionally ordered the state to pump more money into failing schools, which Christie and conservatives argue is a short-sighted way to look at the problem.
Previous coverage:
• Judge says Christie's school budget cuts violated constitution, fell heavily on high-risk districts
• N.J. judge begins hearing testimony on whether Gov. Christie was allowed to cut school aid
• Braun: N.J. will lose education funding cuts case because 'the law is the law'
• Testimony begins in N.J. education funding cuts case
• N.J. judge to begin hearing testimony on whether Gov. Christie was allowed to cut school aid
• N.J. Supreme Court weighs constitutionality of Christie's education cuts
• N.J. Supreme Court to hear arguments on constitutionality of Christie's education budget cuts
• N.J. Supreme Court hears arguments on Abbott schools funding formula