The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has opened the application process for its School Regionalization Efficiency Program (SREP), which provides funding to public school districts and eligible governing bodies. The program supports feasibility studies that assess the potential benefits and cost savings of merging school districts, including countywide and regional consolidations.
DCA Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez said, “It wasn’t that long ago that school districts interested in exploring how to regionalize their resources and programs were blocked from doing so because of the costs involved. The School Regionalization Efficiency Program grants remove this cost barrier so that school communities can research if regionalization is right for them. We invite local school officials to take advantage of this opportunity while it’s available.”
Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer added, “Many school districts throughout New Jersey want to explore ways that regionalization would provide students with greater academic opportunities and to identify ways to reduce costs. The School Regionalization Efficiency Program is a tool that can help communities explore these options. Through successful regionalization, communities can see real savings and efficiencies that benefit taxpayers, while schools can expand and elevate the educational programming offered to their students.”
Eligible applicants include boards of education from local, consolidated, non-operating, limited purpose, or all-purpose regional districts. Municipal governing bodies connected to these types of districts may also apply.
Funding will support K-12 regionalization and countywide consolidation studies for three project types. All projects must demonstrate potential for meaningful regionalization plans aimed at improving learning environments, coordinating curriculum across schools and grades, increasing efficiency and cost savings, avoiding increased segregation among students by race or socioeconomic status, promoting establishment of new regional districts where possible, consolidating geographically close districts, and showing commitment from participating entities.
Feasibility studies will consider factors such as enrollment numbers, facility use, proximity of small-enrollment districts, administrative staffing levels, class sizes, diversity goals, existing debts or contracts, faculty needs and attrition rates.
Awards may cover up to 100 percent of study costs based on application quality and results. After completing a study, participating school districts are not required to implement service sharing agreements but may choose to do so.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the DCA SAGE Portal at https://dcasage.intelligrants.com/portal.asp. Due to limited funding in the FY 2026 state budget appropriation for SREP grants, early submission is recommended.
Program guidelines and applications are available at https://www.nj.gov/dca/dlgs/programs/srep_grants.shtml on the DCA website. Additional information can be requested via DLGS.SREPGRANT@dca.nj.gov or sharedservices@dca.nj.gov.
The Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) advocates for local government interests in New Jersey by providing technical assistance with budgeting and financial management as well as reviewing municipal budgets. DCA also offers services related to affordable housing production, fire safety measures, disaster recovery efforts, rent assistance programs, planning services for municipalities, historic preservation initiatives, building safety regulations compliance checks and privacy information guidance.
More details about DCA programs can be found at https://nj.gov/dca/.
