New School Aid Figures Released: How Much Will Ocean City Get?

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Dozens of school districts across New Jersey are going to see cuts in their state aid in the upcoming school year, according to recently released figures.

During his annual budget address to legislators Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy noted the proposed plan includes the single largest investment in public education in state history. The budget would fully fund the state’s school funding formula for the first time, raising public school funding by $908 million to $11.7 billion. Read more: New NJ School Aid Amounts Released: Who's Getting More?

How is the Ocean City School District going to fare?

The district will see a slight increase in aid, according to the numbers. It's posed to receive 5.10 percent more funding than the previous school year, an increase of $231,003. The district's total aid for the 2024-25 school year will be $4,760,398.

Since the 2020-21 school year, the state has determined its annual distribution of education aid through S2 — a controversial funding formula passed in 2018, Murphy's first year in office.

The governor has defended S2, saying the funding formula had to change to address inequities within the state. But critics have pointed to the losses in state aid among many school districts, which has resulted in cuts while other districts get increases.

Murphy also earmarked funding for expanded preschool access, free school meals and student-teacher stipend and recruitment efforts.

"I am honored to report that the single largest investment in our budget is dedicated to New Jersey’s best-in-the-nation public education system,” Murphy said Tuesday. Read more: 5 Big Takeaways From Murphy's Budget Address