New Jersey Supreme Court expected to make decision on cuts to school aid tomorrow

The New Jersey State Supreme Court is expected to announce its latest ruling in the battle over state-funding for education, Abbott vs. Burke, tomorrow.

The latest round in the case occurred after Gov. Chris Christie cut about $1 billion in school aid for 2009-10. The Education Law Center, a Newark-based school advocacy group, filed charges against Christie’s cuts because they “indisputably violated” the state’s obligation to fund schools under the 2008 school funding law.

Arguments were heard in the Supreme Court earlier this year and Superior Court Judge Peter Doyne was appointed “special master” to take testimony and develop a report about the case. 

Doyne found that how money is spent is more important than how much money is spent, but that schools, especially poorer schools, had been hurt by the cuts.

Christie has threatened to defy the court if it ordered a restoration up to $1.7 billion for public schools, as reported by The Star-Ledger.