The following is a response to myths in our community that have been advanced by BOE Representatives, Candidates, their Operatives and problematic Administrators over the Years who have tried to pawn off responsibility for their decisions onto students.  These arguments come out any time the Budget Process approaches, NJ DOE Performance Reports get published or poorly informed candidates are running for office.

Myth #1:  Berkeley Heights has More Special Needs Students than any other District – that is why our cost per pupil is so high and we have had issues with proficiency.

Fact: Berkeley Heights is right in the middle when it comes to the number of Special Needs Students in our District.

Myth #2: The Reason Berkeley Heights Cost Per Pupil is So High is Because we Spend More than other Districts on Special Needs Students

Fact:  We do spend more than other Districts for special needs but not by much.  If we were to adjust our per pupil cost to the lowest spending District in this area (wiping out over $1,400) and kept EVERYTHING else the SAME, we would still have the second highest spend out of the seven Districts.

Additionally, we also happen to have the second highest per pupil spend on regular instruction.  If we were to do the same for regular Instruction (bring it to the lowest price point) we would save approximately the same amount which leads one to wonder why the focus always tends to fall on special needs students.  It should also lead us to question why we are spending so much more than other Districts per pupil.

Myth #3: The Reason we struggle with proficiency is because of Special Needs Students.

This concern was partially addressed in response to the first myth. Last year, we conducted a deeper analysis, which confirmed that Special Needs Students had little to no impact on overall proficiency rates. The only notable correlation was in ELA, the district’s strongest-performing subject. This suggests that the district was/is struggling across the board in Math and Science, while Special Needs Students face particular challenges in ELA.

Hopefully this year, we can stop using Special Needs students as a scapegoat to protect politicians and administrators who are unwilling or unable to discuss challenges facing the District.

More on Education

Subscribe to NJ21st For Free