NJ Special Education Funding: See How Much Freehold Recieved

Freehold NJ

23 July, 2021

3:41 PM

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FREEHOLD, NJ - How much special education funding from the state will Freehold and Freehold Township get next year? Freehold Borough will receive $308,526 from New Jersey in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, while Township will get $1,144,514, state officials announced. New Jersey's eleventh legislative district, which includes Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Freehold, Long Branch, Neptune, Red Bank, Tinton Falls and Ocean Township, secured a total $10 million across over a dozen municipalities for extraordinary special education funding, officials said in a news release. With an additional $100 million from the state Legislature, the legislators of District 11 helped secure an additional $3 million to bring the total amount of funds for the Monmouth County legislative district to $13 million overall. The funds come as part of the state's FY2022 budget, which allocates $400 million for Extraordinary Special Education funding. Read more: Gov. Murphy Signs NJ 2022 Budget—With $500 Rebate Checks "I am very happy to have fought to secure additional funds for the extraordinary special education fund," said state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-11). "It's unfair for local taxpayers - especially those without school-aged children of their own - to shoulder the mounting costs for extraordinary special education programs. The State needs to step in to take that burden for them, and these extra funds allotted within our district will help do just that." New Jersey's funding law contains an "extraordinary" provision, which provides supplemental state aid to school districts for each student who needs intensive services. The award is based upon an individual student's placement in one of three categories: 1. Student educated in a public school program with non-disabled peers: For those direct instructional and support services costs in excess of $40,000, a district shall receive aid equal to 90 percent of the amount of that excess. 2. Student educated in a public school with only disabled peers: For those direct instructional and support services costs in excess of $40,000, a district shall receive aid equal to 75 percent of the amount of that excess. 3. Student educated in a private school: For tuition costs in excess of $55,000, a district shall receive aid equal to 75 percent of the amount of that excess. "It is our intention to make sure that these districts with excellent special education programs and high populations of students with extraordinary special education needs aren't paying more than their fair share to educate the students in their classrooms," said Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D-11). "While schools have incurred extraordinary expenses during the pandemic, securing more funds for these schools helps these districts through a hard year of struggle and ensure fairness in the budget." The funds can be used for services in any special education setting, including an inclusive general education classroom, a self-contained classroom in the district, or an out-of-district program, such as a private school. Funding will go directly to the sending school district and follows the child. "When we deprive students with special needs of the funding they need to succeed, children, families, and educators are all forced to struggle and compete for funding and resources," said Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-11), Chair of Assembly Human Services Committee. "By increasing State funding for extraordinary special education, we can end this pointless race and give each classroom the funds that it deserves." Below is a breakdown of the funds each town in district was awarded: Asbury Park: $435,063 Colts Neck: $568,723 Eatontown: $277,555 Freehold Boro: $308,526 Freehold Regional: $2,813,470 Freehold Twp: $1,144,514 Long Branch: $610,901 Monmouth Regional: $349,509 Neptune City: $224,079 Neptune Twp: $838,477 Ocean Twp: $1,054,168 Red Bank: $210,982 Red Bank Regional: $154,125 Shore Regional: $249,350 Shrewsbury Boro: $21,471 Tinton Falls: $625,321 West Long Branch: $75,140