STATUS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS GENERAL INFORMATION

A charter school is a public school operated under a charter granted by the Commissioner of Education, that is independent of the district board of education and that is managed by a board of trustees.Charter school legislation was passed to give choice for all parents for their children's education.  The intent of this legislation is to:

• Improve student learning and achievement;
• Increase the availability of choice to parents and students when selecting a learning environment;
• Encourage the use of different and innovative learning methods;
• Establish a new system of accountability for schools;
• Make the school the unit for educational improvement;
• Establish new professional opportunities for teachers

Founders of a charter school may be teaching staff members, parents with children attending schools of the district or a combination of both, as well as institutions of higher education or a private entity located within the State in conjunction with teaching staff members and parents.

• Charter schools may not charge tuition.
• A private or parochial school may not convert to a charter school.
• A charter school is open to all students on a space-available basis with preference being given to students from the district of residence or region of residence of the charter school.

All classroom teachers and professional support staff must hold appropriate New Jersey certification.

CURRENT STATISTICS

• As of September 2004, there are 51 approved charter schools in New Jersey. Fifty are operating and one is scheduled to open in September 2005;
• In September 2004, Princeton Charter School became the first charter school in
  New Jersey to achieve National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence status;
• As of September 2004, New Jersey's charter schools are serving over 14, 000 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12;
• Fourteen counties have approved charter schools;
• All of New Jersey's charter schools are newly created. There are no charter schools that have been converted from other public schools;
• The average enrollment in a charter school is 193 students;
• The average class size of charter schools is 17 students;
  The average school year for charter schools is 186 days;
• The average length of the school day in charter schools is slightly over 7 hours; students are engaged in instruction for an average of slightly over 6 hours;
• In 2004, four of the charter schools that opened in September 2000 were granted charter renewals for an additional five-year period.
   
  -New Jersey Department of Education 2004