The “Simplified” Formula For Calculating Adequate Spending For New Jersey’s Public Schools.

The following is the proposed “simplified” formula for calculating adequate spending for New Jersey’s public schools. (We will refer to this information in subsequent posts)

Adequate Regular Education Student Cost

The cost per regular education student (RESC) is calculated as follows

RESC = base per pupil amount x grade weight

The base per pupil amount (BPA) is established by the New Jersey Department of Education and for the 2008-2009 school year will be $9,649. The BPA will be will be adjusted by the consumer price index (CPI) annually through the 2012-2013 school year.

The grade weight (GW) is established by the New Jersey Department of Education and will be:

Half-day kindergarten = 0.50
Full-day kindergarten = 1.0
Elementary (grades 1 through 5) = 1.0
Middle school (grades 6 through 8) = 1.04
High school (grades 9 through 12) = 1.17

Adequate School District Base Cost

The base cost (BC) for each school district is calculated as follows:

BC = (base per pupil amount) x (weighted enrollment for school district)

The weighted enrollment (WENR) for each school district is calculated as follows:

WENR = (0.5 x half-day kindergarten enrollment) + (1.0 x full-day kindergarten enrollment) + (1.0 x elementary enrollment) + (1.04 x middle school enrollment) + (1.17 x high school enrollment)

Adequate School District Budget

The adequacy budget (AB) for each school district is calculated as follows:

AB = (Base cost for school distinct + Low-income student cost + Bilingual student cost + Combination low-income bilingual student cost + Special education student cost) x Geographic cost adjustment.

Low-income Student Cost

Low-income student cost (ARC) is calculated as follows:

ARC = base per pupil amount of $9,649 x weighted enrollment of low-income students in the school district x low-income student weight

The low-income student weighted enrollment (ARWENR) for each school district is calculated as follows:

ARWENR = (0.5 x low-income half-day kindergarten enrollment) + (1.0 x low-income full-day kindergarten enrollment) + (1.0 x low-income elementary enrollment) + (1.04 x low-income middle school enrollment) + (1.17 x low-income high school enrollment)

The low-income student weight (ARW) is calculated as follows:

AWR = .047, if low-income students are less than 20% of district enrollment

AWR = ((low-income % - 0.20) x 0.25)) + 0.47, if low-income students are 20% or greater, but less than 60% of district enrollment

AWR = 0.57, if low-income students are 60% of district enrollment or greater

Bilingual Student Cost

The bilingual student cost (LEPC) is calculated as follows:

LEPC = base per pupil amount of $9,649 x weighted enrollment of bilingual students x bilingual student weight

The bilingual student weighted enrollment (LWENR) for each school district is calculated as follows:

LWENR = (0.5 x bilingual half-day kindergarten enrollment) + (1.0 x bilingual full-day kindergarten enrollment) + (1.0 x bilingual elementary enrollment) + (1.04 x bilingual middle school enrollment) + (1.17 x bilingual high school enrollment)

The bilingual student weight (LEP) weight is 0.5.

Low-income Bilingual Student Cost

The combination low-income, bilingual student cost (COMBC) is calculated as follows:

COMBC = base per pupil amount of $9,649 x weighted enrollment of combination low-income, bilingual student students x (low-income student weight + the combination low-income, bilingual student weight)

The weighted enrollment of combination low-income, bilingual students (CWENR) for each school district is calculated as follows:

CWENR = (0.5 x combination low-income bilingual half-day kindergarten enrollment) + (1.0 x combination low-income bilingual full-day kindergarten enrollment) + (1.0 x combination low-income bilingual elementary enrollment) + (1.04 x combination low-income bilingual middle school enrollment) + (1.17 x combination low-income bilingual high school enrollment)

The combination low-income bilingual student weight (COMB) is 0.125.

Special Education Student Cost

The special education student cost (SEC) is calculated as follows:

SEC = (district enrollment (RE) x the State average classification rate for special education students (SEACR) x excess cost for special education students (AEC) x 2/3) + (district enrollment (RE) x the State average classification rate for speech-only special education students(SACR) x excess cost for speech-only special education students (AECSO).

SEACR = The State average classification rate for special education students is established by the New Jersey Department of Education and will be 14.69 percent for all school districts..

AEC = the excess cost for special education students is established by the New Jersey Department of Education and will be $10,898 for all school districts.

SACR = the State average classification rate for speech-only special education students is established by the New Jersey Department of Education and will be 1.89 percent for all school districts.

AEC = the excess cost for special education students is established by the New Jersey Department of Education and will be $10,898 for all school districts.

AECSO = the excess cost for speech-only special education students is established by the New Jersey Department of Education and will be $1,082 for all school districts.

Geographic Cost Adjustment

The geographic cost adjustment (GCA) is developed by the New Jersey Department of Education and will be:

Atlantic County = 0.9452
Bergen County = 1.0312
Burlington County = 0.9613
Camden County = 0.9463
Cape May County = 0.8762
Cumberland County = 0.8818
Essex County = 1.0432
Gloucester County = 0.9189
Hudson County = 1.0393
Hunterdon County = 1.0156
Mercer County = 1.0087
Middlesex County = 1.0180
Monmouth County = 1.0170
Morris County = 1.0633
Ocean County = 0.9424
Passaic County = 0.9987
Salem County = 0.9189
Somerset County = 1.0608
Sussex County = 0.8966
Union County = 1.0298
Warren County = 0.9467