The Supreme Court ruled on May 28 that Gov. Jon Corzine’s revised school funding formula is constitutional, ending a decades long court battle.

The 5-0 decision ends the era of Abbott districts like Jersey City, in which 75 percent of the education tab is paid by state aid. In 2008-2009, the city received $417,733,738 ($14,252 per pupil) for nearly 28,000 students.

New Jersey Department of Education spokesperson Rich Vespucci anticipates a two percent reduction in aid to former Abbotts.

“The biggest difference with new versus old is the emphasis on per pupil funding rather than per district, based on students’ needs,” he said. “More than half (of socio-economically disadvantaged children) live in non-Abbott districts.”

The formula places more emphasis on improved socioeconomic status, taxable property values, and income tax, and is subject to a three-year annual review. The former Abbotts will continue to get fully state-funded free pre-school and schools construction, he noted.

Jersey City Public Schools spokesperson Paula Christan said there are a lot of initiatives to cut costs.

“Some programs have been cut. There’s been consolidations of different departments, housekeeping,” she said.

A reduction in state aid may ultimately mean higher property taxes.

Perhaps Mayor Jerramiah Healy wants to stem the inevitable tax rise. He told the Jersey Journal that he wants to tax the owners of illegal apartments through an amnesty program.

Taxes and education costs rise gradually. Positive change in student performance has constantly stalled, with approximately half the city’s 30,000 students falling below state standards in English and Math, year after year.

Higher student achievement demands a vigorous, targeted approach. Fewer than .02 percent of the city’s students declare English as their native language. All urban teachers should have ESL training. Rosetta Stone, are you listening? Offer a grant-based opportunity.

Educators have long faced the challenge of improving student performance and reaching more goals with less funding. However, achievement goals still need to be re-addressed -- even with financial aid from the state being redistributed by student, not district. In fact, student achievement remains static in the former Abbotts districts despite the funds the state poured into them.