NJ Supreme Court decisions in the “Abbott” decisions for school funding have lead to large amounts of tax dollars going into these districts.  The decisions require the State to fund education in 31 designated “Abbott” school districts.  While schools in these districts, such as Newark, were once some of the best in the nation, they have become expensive bureaucracies. 

• Students in ”Abbott” districts receive more than $25,000 per student per year
• Some “Abbott” districts graduate less than 25% of the students
• The “Abbott” districts enroll approximately 21% of the state’s public school students yet they receive 50% of state education aid and this percentage is expected to continue to increase. 
• More than Half of all Sales Tax Revenue goes to fund the “Abbott” school districts.

Every few years politicians appear at the same dilapidated schools but, no matter how much is borrowed, the schools in these districts never seem to be fixed.  Under the current system parents are forced to keep their children in failing schools.

Lonegan’s plan is to give vouchers to students in poor performing districts so parents may choose where to school their children.  The competition is expected to improve performance and bring costs in line with suburban schools.