Insider NJ

The Senate passed legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal to reform New Jersey’s school funding system and enhance support for special education services. The bill, S-3917, makes targeted changes to the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA), strengthens transparency and predictability in how aid is calculated, and establishes a new task force to review the state’s special education funding model. “At its core, this legislation is about equity, clarity, and sustainability,” said Senator Vin Gopal, a Democrat representing Monmouth County. “These reforms are a product of listening to school leaders, educators, and parents across New Jersey who have all said the same thing: we need a fairer, more predictable system,” Gopal said. “With this bill, we are making school funding more transparent, helping districts meet the rising cost of special education, and laying the groundwork for smarter, more equitable investment in public education.”