The Star Ledger, NJ Spotlight, Asbury Park Press, the Courier Post, Central Jersey, and the Record have  breakdowns of each school district’s state aid for 2013-2014. The highest increases go to Elizabeth ($7,559,176),  Camden ($3.6 million),  Bridgeton City ($3,159,226), and Atlantic City ($2,256,673).

NJ Spotlight examines the “teeny weeny” voucher program (Sen. Lesniak’s description) that Gov. Christie proposed in his budget address.

Alyson Klein at EdWeek breaks down the impact of sequestrarian on school districts. Also see Star-Ledger coverage.

The state DOE, reports the Star Ledger and NJ Spotlight, is closing three charter schools for poor test scores and leadership: The Institute for Excellence Charter School in Hammonton, Liberty Academy Charter School in Jersey City, and Oceanside Charter School in Atlantic City. Thirteen autonomous public schools will have their charters renewed.

The Press of Atlantic City reports that “The decision to accept students from other towns is proving to be very profitable for local school districts in the state Public School Choice Program.”

Mathematica used a matched comparison design and a random assignment lottery to  produce comprehensive evidence on the effects of KIPP middle schools across the  country. In the large majority of these schools, KIPP’s impact on student achievement in math, reading, science, and social studies is consistently positive and educationally substantial. In math and reading, there are positive impacts in each  of the first four years after a student enrolls in a KIPP school. In science and social  studies, the study measured impacts in the grade that states administered tests in  these subjects (typically 8th grade), and found positive impacts three to four years after students enroll at KIPP. The evidence suggests that KIPP is among the highest-performing charter networks in the country.