Amicus Brief

On Friday, June 27, 2008, Dollar$ and Sense filed the attached amicus brief with the New Jersey Supreme Court.

See the documents here by clicking on the link -

The Brief

Letter of Certification

Pretrial Brief

Post-trial Submission

Dollar$ and Sense Final Brief To Supreme Court

We are asking the New Jersey Supreme Court and we are asking our Legislators; Put all of the facts on the table.  Then we can all decide.

From the first day we got to see the School Funding Reform Act, Dollar$ and Sense recognized that suburban districts needed to step forward and participate in the correction process.  Our motto defines our purpose:  “ CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS, EFFICIENT SPENDING, AND QUALITY EDUCATION.”

The School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) specifically establishes a base level of “adequacy” funding for urban and suburban schools.  The Education Law Center response Brief also talks about urban and suburban districts.  There is then a succession of briefs, and none of them mention suburban schools at all.  It is as if we are to be carried along with the inertia of their debate.  This will not do!  Our efforts bring suburban districts back into the picture.

While there are many issues we have regarding the formula, it was important for us to focus only on the specific issues before the court.  You will see that the Brief is written in the terms that the Court will acknowledge as germane.  It speaks of “I” and “J” districts because the Court rulings speak of “I” and “J” districts.  Our concern and our efforts are for all suburban districts.

Our districts’ level of accomplishment is the standard that many urban schools must seek to emulate.  The SFRA asks us to reduce the disparity between urban and suburban schools by leveling down what suburban districts spend and what we are able to accomplish.  We have all worked very hard to make our schools great.  We all work to reduce costs.  Our children face challenges we never imagined. This is no time to level down the quality of the education we provide.

To those districts that stepped forward with us, please know that this couldn’t have occurred without your support.  Dollar$ and Sense, and in fact all suburban districts owe you thanks.  To those who took a wait and see position, you will see that what we have done was absolutely necessary.  Our approach is positive and constructive.

We ask you all to send the Brief to any you feel have interest.  With the first step so powerfully presented, we must all be ready when the next step occurs. We have asked the Court to allow us, or those we represent, to be a part of a fact finding process that would determine the correct “adequacy” level for funding our successful districts.  Until the Court responds to our request, we will not know our next step. We know that opening arguments will occur on 9/22/08.  Please encourage people to sign on to our web site so that they receive our e-mailed updates.

We will continue to work to justify the faith many of you have shown to us and we will continue to keep you informed.