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Gov. Christie sends proposal to Legislature to revise charter school laws
BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Following on the heels of Governor Chris Christie's State of the State address where he declared that it is no longer acceptable for a child to be stuck in chronically failing public schools in New Jersey,
The Christie administration Tuesday announced the approval of 23 new charter schools, the largest number to gain approval since the law permitting them to open was passed in 1995.
The approvals include those for five new high schools in Newark that would enroll a total of 2,280 students, a high school for Atlantic City that would enroll 552 students, and one for Willingboro that would enroll 600 students.
And in line with his education agenda outlined in September, Christie Tuesday delivered to the Democratic-controlled Legislature specific proposals that would make significant changes to the state charter school law, including giving them flexibility with operations and administration except for in the areas of academic standards, assessment, testing, civil rights, student health and safety, and open public records."It is not acceptable that a child who is neglected in a New Jersey school must accept it because of their zip code," Christie said in Newark. "Charter schools give parents and children a choice and provide a much-needed alternative to help ensure every child in New Jersey receives a quality education. We cannot ask children and families that have been relegated to failing public schools to wait any longer for relief while their hope is stolen away. Today, we are taking action to ensure that more students are opening the doors to new opportunity, a better education and a brighter future."
When the last round of approvals were made by the state Department of Education, six were approved. Combined with the 23 announced Tuesday, the number of charter schools statewide will climb to 97. In September, the 97 schools will have a combined enrollment of approximately 25,000 students.
"I've come back to the Robert Treat Academy because it is a shining example of the excellent results and restored hope that high-quality charter schools give to their students and communities," Christie said. "While 100,000 New Jersey children are trapped in nearly 200 failing schools, it is unconscionable to further delay the reforms needed to provide real educational opportunity for our children.
"We are taking steps now by approving more charters and aggressively implementing the Interdistrict School Choice law signed in September, but we must go further," the governor added. "Today, I am also proposing sweeping changes to New Jersey's charter school law, in line with my education reform agenda outlined in September, to improve the application and approval processes, provide additional flexibility to charter schools and encourage new and innovative types of charters."
"Increasing the opportunity and choice available to families is crucial to reforming the education system and building a foundation for its excellence," state Acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf said. "The record number of new charter schools approved today is a tangible example of Governor Christie's commitment to bold and ambitious education reforms to put children first in New Jersey."
A Department of Education report released that indicates the majority of charters in urban areas last year outperformed public schools in their host districts on required standardized testing. The charters, located in urban districts, scored higher on the state Assessment of Skills and Knowledge and the High School Proficiency Assessment tests in 2010. For eighth-grade students, 79 percent of the charter schools in urban Abbott districts scored higher than their home district in language arts, while 69 percent of the charter schools scored higher than their home district in math.
Here are the new charter schools:
Arete: K-4 (300) East Orange, Orange: Will offer a single-sex classroom, co-ed school environment. The school will offer single-gender classroom settings to differentiate instruction and drive student achievement.
Atlantic City Community Charter School: K-8 (950) Atlantic City: AC Community will seek to replicate the success of the high-performing Chester Community Charter School in Chester, Pennsylvania. The school will focus on high expectations and strong student outcomes for urban students.
Atlantic Preparatory Charter School: 9-12 (552) Atlantic City: Application presents a sound plan for a blended learning school program. The blended learning would incorporate online learning into the regular school day as well as provide increased access to schoolwork for students and families while not in school.
Bright Horizon Charter School: K-8 (306) Penns Grove-Carneys Point: Will aim to serve foster care students or students at risk of being placed in an out-of-home setting though the school would be open to all students. The school will establish partnership with local organizations and agencies to offer comprehensive wrap-around services for its student population.
Camden Community Charter School: K-8 (950) Camden: Will seek to replicate the success of the high-performing Chester Community Charter School in Chester, Pennsylvania. The charter school will focus on high expectations and strong student outcomes for urban students.
Dr. Lena Edwards: K-8 (396) Jersey City: Will offer a classical education program with a focus on character education.
Dr. Therman Evans Charter School for Excellence: 6-8 (225) Linden, Elizabeth, Roselle: Will offer a program focused on character, leadership, and culture.
Forest Hill Charter School: K-8 (80) Newark: Will provide a comprehensive program to serve students with autism and Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD).
Global Visions: K-4 (165) Egg Harbor City, Galloway-Mullica: Will be centered on project-based learning and teaching to the multiple intelligences of students.
Great Oaks: 6-10 (331) Newark: School aims to serve minority and low-income students in a rigorous college-preparatory environment. Great Oaks is modeled on the successful MATCH school in Boston and other high-performing charter schools.
Kingdom: K-6 (210) Gloucester: Will offer an experiential learning program that addresses the various learning styles of children.
M.E.T.S.: K-6 (210) Jersey City: The application presented a plan for a program that will have a strong mathematics, engineering, technology and science curriculum. METS is planning to partner with Liberty Science Center to implement the curriculum.
Martha Palmer Chaneyfield Charter School: K-4 (400) Newark: Will offer a community-based school committed to excellence for its students.
Millville: K-5 (216) Millville: Will focus on academic excellence with an emphasis on the arts and will build on the successes at Vineland Public Charter School.
New Day Charter High School: 9-12 (100) Newark: Will offer a program focused on academic achievement and supporting the whole child. Specifically it will address the issues of substance abuse, wellness, and developing strong decision-making skills for its students.
New Jersey Virtual Academy: K-12 (1200) Newark: Will offer a virtual learning program for students in Newark.
New Jersey Virtual: 10-12 (300) Camden, Perth Amboy, Neptune, Paterson: Will offer a blended learning program for high school students who have dropped out of school.
People's Prep: 9-12 (380) Newark: Will be a school focused on ensuring academic excellence for all students, developing strong character, and building a commitment to community.
Roseville Community: K-4 (330) Newark: Will offer a rigorous academic program committed to developing the character and discipline in students that is required to achieve academic excellence in high school, college, and beyond.
Shalom: K-8 (240) Englewood, Teaneck: The school's application presents a plan for an academically rigorous, Hebrew language immersion program.
Spirit Prep: 9-12 (600) East Orange, Irvington, Newark: Will offer a blended learning model of project-based learning, face-to-face learning, and online instruction integrated with instrumental music.
Vailsburg Prep: 9-12 (600) Newark: A high school that will serve students using a research-based, blended learning curriculum. In this model, traditional classroom instruction will be supplemented with online learning.
Willingboro: K-5, 9-12 (410) Willingboro: Will offer a curriculum that infuses technology and the arts throughout all content areas. Additionally, the school will focus on character development and community involvement.
Here is Christie‘s proposals for amending the charter school law as described by his office:
- Improving the authorizing and application process;
- Make the 31 New Jersey public colleges (research, 4-year and 2-year) and all local school boards eligible to become authorizers if approved by the NJDOE and enter into contract with NJDOE;
- Authorizers would solicit, review and approve new charters, enter into performance contracts with charters, oversee charters, make renewal and revocation decisions and report on their charters' performance;
- Commissioner oversight over authorizers with authority to terminate them if they fail to fulfill their duties or have a pattern of poor performance for the schools they authorized; and,
- Encouraging charter school applicants:
- Attract best operators to state and encouraging top state charters to expand through a streamlined application process;
- Encouraging larger charter school enrollment regions;
- Have a rolling application process;
- Do not have to unrealistically identify facility before granting charter; and,
- Longer charters with less frequent renewals.
- Helping charter schools through flexibility:
- Providing bussing flexibility for charter schools.
- Flexibility with employees
- Elimination of certification requirements but possibly covered in new performance contract;
- Elimination of tenure; and more salary flexibility for charter schools by eliminating the existing limits
- Flexibility with finances
- Eliminates the false distinction between nonprofit and for-profit operators;
- Facility help with charter school right of first refusal for school districts selling property.
- Encouraging new types of charter schools
- Allowing single-gender schools;
- Encouraging special education/inclusion-focused schools;
- Encourages charters incorporating more efficient on-line learning instructional models;
- Public school charter conversion with easier parent trigger;
- Easier private school conversion; and,
- Allows districts to convert failing public schools into charters.
