NJEA’s officers, President Steve Beatty, Vice President Petal Robertson and Secretary-Treasurer Tina Dare, issued this statement following the passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 state budget:
“We commend Gov. Sherrill and the Legislature for approving a budget that continues New Jersey’s commitment to investing in its public schools and the students and families they serve. By once again fully funding the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA), this budget delivers record funding to school districts. That investment will allow districts to maintain and expand key programs, support students’ academic and mental health needs and continue to provide a world-class public education. Just as importantly, that level of state funding helps reduce pressure on local property taxpayers and allows communities to plan responsibly for the future.
“We also applaud the continuation of full pension funding. That sustained commitment is restoring stability to a system that was underfunded for decades and is essential to keeping the promise made to hundreds of thousands of public employees. A strong and reliable pension system remains a critical tool in attracting and retaining the educators and school support professionals who make New Jersey’s public schools the best in the nation. In the coming year, we look forward to working with legislators and the Sherrill Administration to address the deep injustices of the tiered pension system to ensure that all public school employees have access to a fair and secure pension that allows for a dignified retirement after a career of service to New Jersey’s children.
“This budget also reflects continued progress in expanding access to high-quality preschool and in supporting students through additional academic and mental health resources. Those investments recognize that meeting the needs of the whole child requires more than just excellent classroom instruction and will continue to pay dividends for students, families and communities across our state. At the same time, we must continue strengthening the educator pipeline by restoring funding for the student teacher stipend program and by increasing operating aid for our county colleges, which serve as essential and affordable pathways for so many New Jersey students.
“This budget shows that there is still work to do to ensure that our school funding formula delivers stability and fairness for every district. The limits on year-over-year reductions in aid have helped, but districts facing reductions or insufficient growth continue to struggle with rising fixed costs. We must continue working together to ensure that the formula provides all necessary support so that no district is forced to cut staff or eliminate programs that students rely on.
“The most urgent challenge that remains unaddressed in this budget is the growing statewide crisis in health insurance costs. Those premiums are rising at unsustainable rates, including in the School Employees Health Benefits Plan. Districts across New Jersey are already making difficult decisions that affect staffing, class sizes and student opportunities. This is a real crisis in communities across the state and will only get worse without immediate and thoughtful action.
“With the budget now complete, we call on Gov. Sherrill, the Legislature and all stakeholders to move immediately to address both the short-term funding challenges and the long-term structural issues driving these increases. That includes advancing meaningful reforms, such as the Public School Employees’ Health Benefits Trust Act, and ensuring that any interim moves to stabilize the current plan provide real relief without further destabilizing the system. Temporary fixes that simply shift costs into the future will only delay and deepen the problem. We need sustainable solutions that bring costs under control, protect the quality of coverage and provide the stability that districts and employees need.
“We stand ready to work together with all stakeholders to develop and implement solutions that strengthen the system, support our members and protect the educational opportunities that every New Jersey student deserves. We are ready to do that work immediately.”