Small State Aid Cut In Store For Long Valley Schools In 2025-26

LONG VALLEY, NJ — The Washington Township School District is set to lose a portion of its state aid, according to figures for the 2025-26 school year announced by the New Jersey Department of Education.

The Washington Township School District received $3,742,959 in state aid for the 2024-25 school year and is slated to receive $3,630,670 for the 2025-26 school year, reflecting a decrease of $112,289, or three percent.

Long Valley's high school district, West Morris Regional, is set to receive a 5 percent increase in state aid, bringing their total to $4,205,005.

The record $58.1 billion proposed budget includes $12.1 billion for school funding, reflecting what Governor Murphy called his administration's ongoing and unrelenting commitment to building a New Jersey that is stronger, fairer, and more prepared for the future.

Last week, the state Department of Education released the 2025-26 state funding figures, detailing how the $12.1 billion will support K-12 schools across the state. Of the 392 districts, 175 are set to face funding cuts, while the remaining districts will see increased funding.

Most districts will experience a funding increase of 6 percent, while those facing cuts will see a decrease of 3 percent.

Aid cuts and increases are smaller this year than previously. That's because Gov. Phil Murphy, in his latest budget address, promised changes to New Jersey's school funding to eliminate wild swings in state aid to the state's nearly 600 school districts.

Read more: See Which NJ Schools Will Get More State Aid For 2025-26

This marks the second year that the state has fully funded the K-12 school funding formula established under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 and modified in 2017 by S2, the legislation that reduced "adjustment aid" for some districts while increasing funding for others that had been underfunded.

This article contains additional reporting by Karen Wall.