School-funding plan: questions, answers offered

Two legislative committees were scheduled to hold a joint hearing today to consider Gov. Corzine's proposed new formula for how the state would give money to local schools.
The topic could be hot for the next few weeks. Democratic lawmakers, who hold the majority in both houses in Trenton, want the law passed by Jan. 8.
Here are some questions and answers about what the new formula means for students, schools and taxpayers.
Question:
What is different about the proposed formula?
Answer:
There would be one formula for allocating money — simplified compared to the current one, but still complex — that would apply to each of the state's 618 school districts. Currently, 31 districts in poor areas — known as the "Abbott districts" — get a lot of extra help.
Other districts, especially in recent years, haven't seen much increase in their state aid. Under the new formula, the number of low-income students in a district would be a major factor.
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