School Aid Issue, School Board Recognition Month on Wednesday's Board of Education Agenda

The Woodbridge Board of Education will express its dislike of a state policy dictating student attendance as a means to determine school funding through a resolution at tonight's meeting.

According to the resolution, the state has amended school funding formulas to dictate that each district's school aid will be determined by the attendance of its children, and that every school in New Jersey should have an average daily attendance rate of 96 percent.

Schools falling below that average would see their aid reduced, according to the district.

A 96 percent attendance rate works out to mean that a child would be absent no more than seven days in one school year, according to the resolution.

"It is the opinion of the Board of Education that a 96 (percent) attendance rate is an arbitrary standard to apply to all New Jersey School Districts and is contrary to the history of funding in this state and the School Funding Reform Act of 2008," the resolution said. 

A loss in state aid due to student attendance would require local taxes to make up the difference, the resolution said. 

The board will meet at 6 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Dec. 18 at Avenel Middle School. 

To view the meeting agenda, click here.