Camden Resident Explains Opposition To New School Funding Plan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Camden resident Sue Altman spoke with Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT about her opposition to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's plan to change the way public schools are funded in the Garden State.
Altman said the restructuring, that would provide each district with the same amount of money per pupil, would leave poorer districts extremely short on funds without conceivable path to make up the deficit.
"My point is that there's no way a city like Camden or, frankly, any of the districts that use state aid, and there are many, many or them, will be able to close that gap just by raising property taxes in their own areas. There's 143 districts across New Jersey that would see major increases. My point was, hey Governor Christie how are going to expect that these places can provide a Constitutional, thorough and efficient education? What's your plan?"
She stated that charter schools can help in some cases, but they are not a cure-all for the problem.
"I think that we have to look at charter schools with a careful eye. I think they're a mixed bag. Just like there are in district schools, I think you see a mixed bag of outcomes. It's been proven. People have researched this. Charter schools in New Jersey do not serve the same demographic of students as neighborhood schools. That means they have fewer students who are in poverty and their degree of poverty is greater. They have fewer students who [are] English language learners. They have fewer students who have the most expensive special needs. This is what I was trying to say to the Governor, we're not exactly comparing apples to apples when we say a straight comparison, charter school x, district school y, there's a gap there. They're not the same people."
