A New Jersey assemblyman is pushing to direct the state’s expected windfall from a multistate settlement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, toward school districts that fall short of the state’s own funding benchmarks.

New Jersey is projected to receive roughly $700 million from the settlement. Assemblyman Alex Sauickie wants about $200 million of that sent immediately to the state’s most underfunded districts, with the remainder set aside for a multi-year funding commitment.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to fix a problem Trenton helped create,” said Sauickie (R-Ocean).

Sauickie said many suburban and rural districts spend below the state’s calculated “adequacy” level, the amount officials say is needed to provide a thorough and efficient education, even as those districts raise property taxes and cut teachers, sports and arts programs. Some have closed schools altogether.

“Parents are paying more in property taxes while their children are getting less. That should be unacceptable to everyone,” he said.

He argued the state shouldn’t look for new programs to fund with the money.

“Put roughly $200 million into the schools that have been starved of funding and use the remainder to establish a multi-year commitment that finally gives these districts, their parents and their taxpayers some stability.”

Sauickie has introduced two related bills. A4750 would provide up to $50 million to districts whose property-tax levies have risen more than 9.9% over two years and that also face steep health insurance cost increases.

“These districts have already asked their taxpayers for far too much. The Meta settlement gives us the resources to absorb some of those costs instead of sending another bill to homeowners.”

The second bill, A4860, dubbed the “Fairness for School Districts in Development Restricted Areas Act,” would send additional aid to districts in the state’s Highlands and Pinelands preservation areas. State development restrictions in those regions limit commercial growth, which Sauickie said constrains the property-tax base available to fund local schools.

“If New Jersey imposes those restrictions for the benefit of the entire state, then New Jersey has an obligation to help fund the schools in those communities.”

Sauickie also drew a connection between the source of the settlement money and how he thinks it should be spent, noting the underlying case involved allegations of harm to children from social media use.

“There is no better way to put that money to work than investing it directly back into New Jersey’s children and their schools.”

He is calling for a dedicated school funding initiative that would prioritize districts with the largest funding gaps first, then use remaining settlement proceeds to provide several years of budget stability.

“A $700 million windfall is enough money to make a real difference. We can protect teachers, preserve sports and the arts, keep schools open, and give property taxpayers a chance to finally catch their breath. We have the money. We know which districts need the help. What we need now is the political will to put New Jersey’s children and taxpayers first.”