Montclair schools expected to receive increase in state aid

Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed 2022-23 budget would provide Montclair public schools with more than $8.41 million in state aid, a 4.73% increase from last year.

In 2021-22, Montclair received $8.03 million. 

The funding would be categorical aid, outlined in the School Funding Reform Act, which allows for funding in seven categories, according to a budget explainer on the New Jersey School Boards Association website. 

The proposal would give the Montclair school district funding in four categories — $1.18 million for transportation, $6.16 million for special education, $755,225 for security and $323,539 for adjustment aid (an amount to ensure the district receives no less than what was allocated when the Act was adopted in 2008). 

“We have invested more in our public schools than at any other point in our state’s history -- and we’re on the path to fully funding our obligation to our kids and their parents, our educators, and our property taxpayers,” Murphy said in a March 8 budget address.

Murphy’s proposal includes a K-12 aid increase of about 7%, more than $650 million.

For the 2021-22 school year, Montclair received a 4.37% increase in funding from 2020-2021, when it received $7,697,276. That, in turn, was a 1.2% increase from the year before, after state aid was cut due to economic difficulties resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

Montclair does not receive state Pre-K aid.