This study focused on the extent to which the time of year and/or the inclusion of funds for school safety and/or security had an effect on the outcome of school funding referenda in New Jersey. This study also explored school funding controversies and legislation in New Jersey since 1875. The researcher conducted a quantitative study designed in two phases. First, the researcher analyzed public data on school funding referenda from 2008 through 2018. Subsequently, the researcher conducted a survey of 31 New Jersey school superintendents who passed a referendum in the years 2016, 2017 or 2018 that included funds for school safety and/or security to measure their perspectives on the same. The results of these research steps suggest that certain months do have higher passage rates than others and that the inclusion of funds for school safety and/or security does have a positive effect of passage rates as compared to the overall passage rates for school funding referenda in New Jersey. The researcher also concluded that a majority of the superintendents surveyed in this study believed that the time of year and the inclusion of funds for school safety and/or security had a positive effect on the outcome of their school funding referendum. The results of this study can be used by school district leaders as they develop a strategy for getting their stakeholders to support the additional funds requested in a school funding referendum.

Last modified

• 02/21/2025

Creator

• Forte, Steven A.

Subject

• Educational leadership
• Educational administration
• Education finance

Publisher

• Saint Peter's University

Keyword

• referendum
• school funding
• thorough and efficient
• New Jersey
• School Funding Reform Act of 2008
• Senate Two
• school safety
• school security
• 1875
• data analysis

Date created

• 2020

Resource type

• Dissertation

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted