Jon Corzine believes that every New Jersey child has a right to be challenged, every day, in schools that are among the best in the world. His record reflects this commitment to our kids.
- A New School Funding Formula
Governor Corzine broke a 40-year impasse on school funding with a formula that is rooted in our children’s needs, rather than in zip codes. The new formula distributes money more evenly across the state, increases funding for special education, and boosts the state’s support for extraordinary special education costs.
- Increasing Classroom Dollars
Even as he has shrunk the overall size of government and made steep cuts in the state budget, Governor Corzine increased total funding for education by over $1.8 billion since 2006. The Governor also increased accountability to ensure that funds are used efficiently and effectively, and signed legislation to consolidate school districts and services. Because of Jon Corzine’s responsible management, we are getting more bang for our education buck.
- Early Childhood Education
Under Jon Corzine, New Jersey has prioritized high quality early childhood education. We lead the nation in preschool enrollment and are on our way to ensuring that all children enjoy a good start in life.
- Raising Standards
The Corzine Administration raised performance levels and toughened standards for high school math and science curricula. That’s why our students score higher on math and reading scores than all but two other states; our graduation rates are the highest in the country; and, Education Week ranks us first-in-the-nation for preschool enrollment. New Jersey students are also considered among the best prepared for higher education.
- Building 21st Century Schools
Because he believes that education is a child’s most fundamental birthright, Corzine has authorized $3.9 billion for school construction – a figure that will increase to $5.4 billion when local contributions are added. The $5.4 billion will support 52 new schools in the former Abbott districts and hundreds of projects in all other districts. Governor Corzine created the Schools Development Authority (SDA) to reform the school construction process, demanding greater accountability, transparency and reporting requirements. The SDA has completed over 600 projects to date. In keeping with his commitment to equal opportunity, Governor Corzine mandated the recruitment of a diverse workforce for new school construction.
