Governor Phil Murphy’s 2026 Fiscal Year State Budget includes $12.1 billion in educational aid allocated to K-12 schools which is almost $4 billion more than the 2018 fiscal year. 

In sharp contrast, the Cherry Hill School District will experience a loss of $884,317. This decrease in State aid “poses undeniable challenges, and difficult decisions will need to be made,” according to Cherry Hill Board of Education President Gina Waters and Superintendent Dr. Kwame R. Morton Sr. 

What are these “undeniable challenges” and “difficult decisions”? What does it mean for students? How does the parent and teacher community feel about the decrease in state funding? What can the school district do to bridge the gap? What do you think can be done to improve this persistent challenge?

Join WHYY News Community & Engagement team for Bridging Blocks, a civic dialogue series in partnership with The Free Library of Philadelphia.

Host - Tony Cuffie Senior Manager Community & Engagement, WHYY News

Moderator - Brisa Luzzi Castro Community Convener, WHYY News

Bridging Blocks, a partnership between The Free Library of Philadelphia and WHYY, is made possible by a generous grant from Fred and Barbara Sutherland.