DCA Highlights the Benefits of School Regionalization at Statewide School Regionalization Conference

• Posted on: 02/15/2024

Conference Showcased the School Regionalization Efficiency Program and How it Helps Fund Regionalization Studies

GLASSBORO, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) recently joined the Sweeney Center for Public Policy for a School Regionalization Conference held at Rowan University to discuss school regionalization and how it can improve efficiency, resource allocation, and educational outcomes.

More than 150 superintendents, school business administrators, school board members, and representatives of associations, including the New Jersey Education Association, New Jersey School Boards Association, and other education groups gathered in person and virtually to learn more about the School Regionalization Efficiency Program (SREP) administered by DCA’s Division of Local Government Services (DLGS).

DCA Acting Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez and DLGS Local Assistance Bureau Chief Rick Richardella offered the State’s perspective with an overview of the SREP process. SREP grant recipients and education officials also discussed the merits of school regionalization.

“School regionalization and shared services done through voluntary initiatives are an integral part of Governor Murphy’s mission to make government more efficient and more cost-effective,” said DCA Acting Commissioner Suárez. “SREP allows public school districts an opportunity to explore potential regionalization outcomes that can provide the best possible education for students while at the same time ensuring cost savings for taxpayers. We look forward to continued conversations with public school districts to help their initiatives move forward.”

The grant program was established by P.L.2021, c.402, which was signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy in January 2022.

SREP provides reimbursement to approved applicants for eligible costs associated with feasibility studies that look at school district regionalization or consolidation. The studies will explore how districts could merge, including forming countywide and regional school districts, and if a potential merger would result in cost savings or other efficiencies and benefits to students and taxpayers.

“School regionalization in New Jersey is moving forward, with more and more districts taking advantage of the School Regionalization Efficiency Program grants offered through the state Division of Local Government Services,” said Mark J. Magyar, co-director of the Rowan School Regionalization Institute. “This fall, voters overwhelmingly approved the preK-12 merger of the Henry Hudson Regional, Atlantic Highlands, and Highlands school districts in the first successful school regionalization since 2013 and the first under the bipartisan legislation that created the SREP grant program.”

Since the program was established, the application process has been streamlined to implement a rolling application process for districts to apply throughout the year and to allow districts to contract with state universities to do a feasibility study without having to go out for a request for proposal.

To date, DLGS has awarded SREP grants to four public school districts throughout the state.

For more information on school regionalization, visit https://www.nj.gov/dca/dlgs/programs/srep_grants.shtml

The Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy was created to fill the need for an independent bipartisan public policy center to conduct research and develop pragmatic solutions to complex policy issues based on data-driven analysis, rigorous academic research, and convening working groups that bring together policy experts, stakeholders and advocates to reach consensus. For more information, visit https://chss.rowan.edu/centers/sweeney_center/.

DLGS serves as an advocate for local government interests and provides technical and financial assistance in budgeting, financial reporting, joint services, purchasing, and management issues. It is responsible for the financial integrity of all local government units and reviews and approves all municipal, county, and fire district budgets. The Division also reviews many local government financial actions and governs and guides the conduct of local government officials.

In addition to local government services, DCA offers a wide range of programs, including affordable housing production, fire safety, building safety, community planning and development, disaster recovery and mitigation, historic preservation, and information privacy.

For more information about DCA, visit https://nj.gov/dca/ or follow the Department on social media: