Send a Letter to your New Jersey State Representatives

I have drafted a letter that anyone who has an interest in reforming how we fund education in New Jersey can share with out elected representatives. It shares many of the insights gathered from the Education Law Center and asks, as of February 2026, to commit to transparency, equity and accountability in how New Jersey funds its schools.

Our children's education is too important to leave it to the arbitrary and unfair process it follows today.

Montclair is located in New Jersey's 27th district. Our representatives are, as of February 2026

Senator John F. McKeon (D)

Assemblywoman Rosaura "Rosy" Bagolie (D)

Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill (D)

Dear Governor Sherrill, Senator McKeon, Assemblywoman Bagolie, and Assemblywoman Callazos-Gill,

I am writing to urge you to address the inequities in New Jersey’s school funding system and the specific harm it is causing Montclair.

[Personalize it here…who are you…how many kids do you have]

According to the Education Law Center, Montclair receives only 83% of the state aid required under the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) — a $2 million shortfall this year alone. This directly affects classrooms, staffing, programming, and the quality of education we provide to our children. It is also deeply connected to the current fiscal crisis facing our district.

Montclair is often described as a “wealthy town” that should shoulder more of the burden. But that narrative does not withstand scrutiny. Millburn receives 108%, Ridgewood 111%, and Summit 128%.

If Montclair is funded at 83% while similarly situated or wealthier communities are funded above 100%, funding decisions appear arbitrary and unfair.

Meanwhile, FY2026 is the first year the state has ever “fully funded” the formula — and even that term is generous. It doesn’t follow the formula, and the state’s share of total education spending has declined from 38% in 2008 to 32% today. To match the 2008 share, New Jersey would need to invest approximately $2 billion more, and that may not be enough.

We need a transparent, stable funding framework that adheres to the law, distributes aid equitably, and restores the state’s commitment to its fair share of education funding.

School funding in New Jersey is broken, and I respectfully ask you to:

• Commit to ending the routine use of so-called budget language that overrides the SFRA or any successor
• Ensure that underfunded districts like Montclair receive their full formula allocation
• Revisit and grow the state’s share of education spending
• Provide transparency so communities understand how funding decisions are made

Our children deserve a system that reflects the values we claim to hold about public education. Montclair residents deserve clarity and fairness in how their tax dollars are allocated.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss it further.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
Montclair, NJ