The Education Law Center (ELC) issued the following statement regarding the decision issued today by Remand Judge Peter E. Doyne:

We disagree with the decision upholding the constitutionality of the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (SFRA) as applied to the urban or "Abbott" districts. We will continue to argue to the Supreme Court that the formula will shortchange our neediest and most disadvantaged schoolchildren and reverse over a decade of educational progress in our poorest schools.

Despite approving the SFRA, the decision finds that the Abbott supplemental funding process must be continued, given the "harm" likely to occur to the students in the Abbott districts under the formula, at least over the next three years.

"Judge Doyne found that the SFRA cannot be constitutional unless supplemental funding is available to protect our most vulnerable schoolchildren – those in urban communities," said David Sciarra, Executive Director of ELC. "We support his recommendation that Abbott supplemental funding remain in effect."

"In light of Judge Doyne’s opinion, we urge Governor Corzine and his administration to quickly afford the Abbott districts the opportunity to request supplemental funding for the 2009-10 school year," Sciarra added. "Clearly, the door to supplemental funding is still open. In fact, it is a necessary lifeline for students in these districts."

Read Judge Doyne’s decision here.

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