NJ High Court Orders $500M in Extra School Funding, Short of the $1.7B Feared by the Governor

The New Jersey Supreme Court in a 3-2 ruling has ordered the state schools to spend additional money on public education in poor school districts, an amount estimated to be $500 million.

The figure is less than the $1.7 billion feared by Gov. Chris Christie, the Associated Press reports. The decision is the latest in a long-running battle for money by poor schools in 31 communities based on the state constitutional requirement for a "thorough and efficient education."

The ruling is nonetheless a rebuke to Christie, AP says. The opinion says Christie has made "consequential and significant" cuts to education spending and they must be rolled back, according to NJ.com.

Hat tip to How Appealing, which posted the (PDF).