3. School Funding & Jersey City Case Study

Property Taxes Explained Public Schools Understanding Local Budgets

I wanted to share a brief explainer on "high schools with the majors." At the bottom of this post is ...

March 7, 2024 / career and technical education, Career Clusters, CTE, Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101

The local budget timeline

To follow the public money and better understand what’s driving your property tax bills, you have to know when to ...

March 10, 2023 / Budget Transparency, How Local Budgets Work, Local Revenues, Property Taxes Explained, Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101, Understanding Local Budgets

NJ’s “Cost Per Pupil” is a flawed comparison of school district cost.

How NJ's "cost-per-pupil" can mislead taxpayers to interpret "investing more in higher needs students" as "overspending" On its face, the ...

April 26, 2021 / Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101

JCPS: How does the schools budget process work?

Update, Feb 5, 2021: I’m re-upping this post from 2020 to share with anyone who’s interested in the upcoming schools ...

February 5, 2021 / Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101, Uncategorized

Jersey City Public Schools 2020/21 Budget Process: Working Timeline & FAQs

As we enter the budget season for Jersey City Public Schools, I wanted to share some upcoming process info – ...

February 24, 2020 / Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101, Uncategorized

Infographic: Jersey City: the Municipality’s Role in School Underfunding

I've created this infographic as part of the 4th post of my 4-part series about the School Tax Rate in ...

January 18, 2020 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101

NJ School Funding Basics: “Adequacy” Budget, School Tax Levy, & the Impact of Inflation (A Case Study of Jersey City)

This article is about Jersey City’s public schools funding crisis. If you’re unfamiliar with this issue, you can read more ...

March 7, 2019 / Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101

NJ School Funding Basics: NJ Department of Education Data & Reports

This is a quick initial post to point taxpayers to an excellent resource for rich, official public data about our ...

January 4, 2019 / #DataViz, #FundOurSchools, #GetCivic, #openData, Board of Education, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Public Budget, Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101, School Funding Advocacy, School Tax Levy, Tableau, Tax Base

Jersey City & NJ: Student Group Data from NJ School Performance Reports (A Focus on ELL, At-Risk, and Special Education Students)

The NJ Department of Education publishes annual data relating to certain “student groups”, per school. The table below focuses on ...

October 6, 2018 / #DataViz, #FundOurSchools, #GetCivic, #openData, Board of Education, English Language Learner, Enrollment, Free and Reduced Lunch, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Public Budget, Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101, School Funding Advocacy, School Tax Levy, special education, Tableau, Tax Base

Jersey City’s Taxpayer Funded Schools: Enrollment Overview with Focus on Income Diversity

The charts below show enrollment data for Jersey City Public Schools. The Jersey City Public Schools system is the 39-school ...

September 15, 2018 / #DataViz, #FundOurSchools, #GetCivic, #openData, Board of Education, English Language Learner, Enrollment, Free and Reduced Lunch, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Public Budget, Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101, School Funding Advocacy, School Tax Levy, special education, Tableau, Tax Base

Jersey City Funding Crisis: Banked Cap, Explained

Public Schools Understanding Local Budgets

Jersey City Public Schools: CivicParent Funding FAQs I have been trying to understand how Jersey City Public Schools are funded ...

April 27, 2018 / #FundOurSchools, Banked Cap, Board of Education, Education Law Center, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, NJ SFRA of 2008, Public Budget, Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101, School Funding Advocacy

JERSEY CITY SCHOOL FUNDING CRISIS (2018-2025)

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Jersey City Public Schools – 2025/26 Budget Insights (Focus on Revenues)

This is a follow-up to a previous post about the 2025/26 schools budget about Jersey City’s 2025/26 schools budget which ...

May 10, 2025 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Local Revenues, Public Schools, Understanding Local Budgets

Jersey City Public Schools – Insights re: the 2025/26 Board of Ed Budget

📊 Local Budgets Public Schools Understanding Local Budgets

The Board of Education's budget was confusing to the public despite several notable updates to the funding paradigm. My friend ...

April 21, 2025 / 📊 Local Budgets, How Local Budgets Work, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools, Structural Expense, Understanding Local Budgets

Demystifying Jersey City’s $1 billion budget for JCPS high schoolers

🏛️ Municipal Public Schools Understanding Local Budgets

I recently met with high school student leaders in Jersey City Public Schools who are sharing stories of the conditions ...

October 19, 2023 / 🏛️ Municipal, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools, Structural Expense, Understanding Local Budgets

JCPS audit is informing about needed improvements

🏛️ Municipal Public Schools

I’m playing catch-up (due to a busy spring), but I wanted to share important news from the JC Board of ...

May 24, 2023 / 🏛️ Municipal, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

Jersey City set to lose $51 million in NJ education aid; how this connects to rising school tax

🏛️ Municipal 🌱📚 Spring into Civics - Exploring Affordability in Jersey City Public Schools

NJ's Department of Education released its state education aid summaries for the 2023/24 academic year and Jersey City is set ...

March 2, 2023 / 🏛️ Municipal, 🌱📚 Spring into Civics - Exploring Affordability in Jersey City, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

Jersey City’s 2022 tax hikes & Q3 and Q4 tax bill flux, explained

Civic Parent Series Public Schools

This post made my head spin a bit … the math and timing is wonky and confusing. I’ve done my ...

October 23, 2022 / Civic Parent Series, Jersey City Municipal Budget: 2022, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools, Tax Bills & Tax Rate Mechanics

$89M Maintenance of Equity to JCPS & the Eventual “Fiscal Cliff”

I wanted to share some thoughts around the $89 million "maintenance of equity" funds that Jersey City Public Schools received ...

September 9, 2022 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

Jersey City Board of Education Passes Historic School Levy Investment

Tonight the Jersey City Board of Education passed its 2022-23 school budget along a 5-4 vote, approving funds that staved ...

May 5, 2022 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

A picture of state aid reduction in Jersey City

🌱📚 Spring into Civics - Exploring Affordability in Jersey City Public Schools

I wanted to share a picture of the state aid reductions to Jersey City Public Schools. State Aid can be ...

March 15, 2022 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

Putting Jersey City’s low school tax rate into perspective

Jersey City lost another $68 million in state aid on March 10th, 2022. This cut was expected, part of the ...

March 13, 2022 / 🌱📚 Spring into Civics - Exploring Affordability in Jersey City, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

Midway through Jersey City’s “S2” state aid cuts: assessing the fiscal landscape.

It has been nearly four years since NJ passed the “S2” law, leading to state aid cuts to Jersey City ...

February 11, 2022 / Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

In one chart: Jersey City’s seismic change in tax levies fully funds the schools and reallocates property tax

A "levy" is the amount raised in property tax to fund a government budget. Typically, a levy is one of ...

June 30, 2021 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

Thoughts on Jersey City’s 2020 Board of Education (BOE) Election

I’ve been getting asked about my thoughts re: the Board of Education election. I wanted to offer two insights that ...

September 28, 2020 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools, Uncategorized

Jersey City BOE Passes Mr. Walker’s Full Budget: $52.7M

Jersey City’s Board of Education took a huge step forward, following Superintendent Walker’s courageous lead to invest in Jersey City ...

May 12, 2020 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

Why the School Tax Levy is Key to Funding JCPS (and why seeking abatement funds is not a concrete solution).

I've heard "can't we go after the abatement money to fund our schools? Rather than increase the school tax levy?" ...

January 30, 2020 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools, Tax Abatements & Development

Infographic: Jersey City: the Municipality’s Role in School Underfunding

I've created this infographic as part of the 4th post of my 4-part series about the School Tax Rate in ...

January 18, 2020 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools, Public Schools Policy 101

A Closer Look at Jersey City’s School Tax Rate, Part 3: A Case for Increasing the School Tax Levy

A Closer Look at Jersey City's School Tax Rate, Part 3: A Case for Increasing the School Tax Levy Jersey ...

November 11, 2019 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

A Closer Look at Jersey City’s School Tax Rate. Part 2: Statewide Comparisons & the Role of the Tax Base

This is the second in a 4-part series about 2018 school tax rates, with a focus on Jersey City. This ...

October 17, 2019 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

A Closer Look at Jersey City’s School Tax Rate, Part 1: the Public Data

This is the first in a 4-part series about 2018 school tax rates, with a focus on Jersey City. This ...

October 15, 2019 / Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools

Civic Questions for the Board of Education Upon Passing of their 2019/20 Budget

I wanted to share some civic questions that can be asked on the record or included in an email to ...

May 31, 2019 / #FundOurSchools, Board of Education, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Budget, Public Schools, School Funding Advocacy, School Tax Levy, Tax Base

PS #5 Advocacy Campaign: Not Good Enough – Better Leadership Needed.

Tell Jersey City's elected: we need you to provide better leadership. Fund Our Schools. How you can help. Keep the ...

May 30, 2019 / #FundOurSchools, Board of Education, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, PS #5 PTA, Public Budget, Public Schools, School Funding Advocacy, Uncategorized

PS #5 PTA School Funding Advocacy Action: Keep the pressure on the BOE & City Leadership: No Pink Slips!

Jersey City is not properly funding its public schools. Hundreds of JCPS employees have received layoff notices aka "pink slips" ...

May 16, 2019 / #FundOurSchools, Board of Education, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, PS #5 PTA, Public Budget, Public Schools, School Funding Advocacy, Uncategorized

JC BOE Used Incorrect Tax Base Value in Its 2019/20 Budget: Explaining the Tax Math

The Jersey City Board of Education used an incorrect tax base value in its budget presentation. It then based its ...

May 15, 2019 / #FundOurSchools, Board of Education, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Budget, Public Schools, School Funding Advocacy, School Tax Levy, Tax Base

Accountability Checkpoint: Parent FAQs for May 13th BOE Meeting to Finalize the Budget

I’ve been getting some questions in advance of the Board of Education meeting tonight, and thought I’d share via a ...

May 13, 2019 / #FundOurSchools, Board of Education, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Budget, Public Schools, School Funding Advocacy, School Tax Levy, Tax Base

The Jersey City BOE’s “10% Tax Levy Hike” Isn’t Enough & Doesn’t Value Our Kids or JCPS

Jersey City’s Board of Education is emphasizing a “10%” school tax levy increase as if that’s a big jump. Except ...

May 8, 2019 / #FundOurSchools, Board of Education, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Budget, Public Schools, School Funding Advocacy, School Tax Levy, Tax Base

Jersey City: Approximately $40 Million of School Tax is Locked Up in Abatement Contracts

This is part of a series about the 2019/20 proposed municipal and schools budgets in Jersey City. Jersey City’s proposed ...

May 7, 2019 / Abatements & Schools, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools, Tax Abatements & Development

2019/20 Proposed Advertised Appropriations (JCPS Spending for 2019/20 School Year)

📊 Local Budgets Public Schools

How to use this visualization: Check out prior visualizations here that I'm sharing as part of the 2019/20 budget cycle ...

April 28, 2019 / #DataViz, #FundOurSchools, #GetCivic, #openData, Appropriations, Board of Education, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Budget, Public Schools, School Funding Advocacy, School Tax Levy

How does Jersey City Spend Its Money? A Data Visualization of Budgets from 2015-2018

As we look towards the coming weeks and months, two local governing bodies are undergoing a public budgeting process: The ...

April 25, 2019 / #DataViz, #FundOurSchools, #GetCivic, #JCCityBudget, #openData, Board of Education, 📊 Local Budgets, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Budget, Public Schools, School Funding Advocacy, School Tax Levy

Jersey City Facing $27 Million State Aid Cut for 2019/20 School Year

Governor Murphy released his proposed fiscal year (FY) 2019/20 budget for NJ and this week, and it included a re-allocation ...

March 7, 2019 / #FundOurSchools, Board of Education, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Budget, Public Schools, School Funding Advocacy, School Tax Levy

JCPS Funding Crisis: An Overview

Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis Based on the state funding formula, Jersey City Public Schools are currently $100 million ...

January 4, 2019 / #DataViz, #FundOurSchools, #openData, Board of Education, English Language Learner, Free and Reduced Lunch, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Budget, Public Schools, School Funding Advocacy, School Tax Levy, special education, Tax Base

Jersey City Funding Crisis: Banked Cap, Explained

Jersey City Public Schools: CivicParent Funding FAQs I have been trying to understand how Jersey City Public Schools are funded ...

JCPS Funding: Why Possible State Aid Cuts = “Major Hardship”

I will be writing about this issue as it unfolds, it’s a big topic that taxpayers should understand. This ...

June 29, 2017 / Board of Education, Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools Funding Crisis, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, NJ SFRA of 2008, Public Budget, Public Schools

Jersey City PILOTs Rob Funding from the School System

A strong public school system is essential bedrock to a healthy community. Yet in Jersey City, our bedrock is threatened by a fiscal ...

November 17, 2015 / Abatements & Schools, Jersey City School Funding Crisis, Public Schools, Tax Abatements - Jersey City Case Studies, Tax Abatements & Development

Jersey City, We Have A Problem.