Funding education in N.J. has been a failure

The current system of funding education in New Jersey — which relies almost exclusively on property taxes — has been a dismal failure. It has been a major contributing factor to New Jersey's unenviable distinction of having the highest property taxes in the country, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the property tax bill and has produced mixed results in the caliber of education across the state.

Perhaps no other example better exemplifies the problems in New Jersey's education system than the failure of the inner city schools to offer a quality education to young people in those communities. The average cost to educate a child in Newark public schools in 2008 was $20,482. Compare that with an average cost of $6,000 to educate a child in a Catholic school. Most telling, however, is the disparity in graduation rates between the two. Using the graduation counts compact formula, the graduation rate for Newark in 2007 was 63.4 percent, while the Catholic schools were well over 90 percent for the same year. Thus, it is clear that the problems facing education in New Jersey will not be solved simply by throwing more taxpayer dollars at the system.

That is why it was heartening to hear gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie promote a plan to reform the education system in New Jersey through the creation of more charter schools, merit pay for teachers and most importantly, school vouchers that would enable poor and minority parents in urban areas the option of sending their children to better private schools while creating competition that would ultimately improve the public schools. This would also provide relief for the suburban taxpayer, who is forced to subsidize the Abbott funding system that has been proven to be costly, wasteful and grossly ineffective.

Gerry Scharfenberger

Deputy Mayor Middletown Township