Christie open to Democrats' schools plan, but has concerns

Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Senate President Steve Sweeney — both Democrats — are pressing their recently unveiled proposal with Christie, whose spokesman said Thursday the governor would consider the plan.

The issue comes after Christie failed to meet a self-imposed 100-day deadline to get a deal together on how the state funds education, which it supports through payments to its more than 600 school districts, and as a June 30 budget deadline approaches.

Out of 40 legislative districts, each represented by two Assembly members and a state senator, eight would see reductions.

Calling it a "landmark first step" toward restoring school funding fairness, Sweeney said the agreement was a "significant reform ... to provide increased aid to fast-growing districts."