Press Release

Comprehensive Charter School Reforms Increase Transparency, Ban For-Profit and Virtual [...]

Overall, 51.9% of charter students are proficient or higher in reading compared to the state average of 53.1%. In Newark and Jersey City, charter students outperform the state average in reading, while in Plainfield and Paterson, charter students have exceeded pre-pandemic reading levels.

This program brings together more than two dozen parents, charter school alumni, educators, and public charter school supporters who are passionate about ensuring the best education for every New Jersey student.

Public charter school supporters walked the halls of the State House, attended committee hearings, and engaged lawmakers on the critical role public charter schools play in the state’s educational landscape, particularly the tremendous work they are doing to end educational disparities in New Jersey.

Public charter schools located in Newark, Trenton, Paterson, Jersey City, Vineland, East Orange, and New Brunswick beat the odds and landed in the top 1% of the state when calculating how students grew relative to peers statewide in math and reading year-over-year.

"Governor Murphy’s budget proposal is a great starting point and we look forward to working with him and the Legislature to further refine New Jersey’s spending priorities... Increasing funding for facility upgrades like new boilers, windows, doors, and roof repairs is necessary to guarantee all students have safe, secure and modern school buildings."

Charter Students in Newark Beat Statewide Average In ELA For Second Year in a Row

The highlight of the event was NJPCSA’s parent and alumni ambassadors meeting Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (D-Essex, Hudson), who represents residents of Newark living in the 29th Legislative District. “I commend NJPCSA’s commitment to empowering parents and students in this city. A mother’s power is the driving force behind her children’s success and I look forward to supporting their work to strengthen quality education for all Newark students,” Assemblywoman Speight said.

Today, the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association announced that Galen Johnson and Ashley Cordero have joined the organization as Senior Director of Grassroots Advocacy and Newark Community Organizer, respectively.

"We thank Governor Murphy, Majority Leader Ruiz and all the legislative sponsors for recognizing the urgency of the challenges facing New Jersey's schools, from learning loss to longstanding resource gaps in our urban centers. These new laws were the product of collaboration with a broad array of education stakeholders and will give more schools, both district and public charter schools, the tools to grow and expand their literacy programs to meet the needs of our youngest learners. While this policy response will require a continued all-hands-on-deck approach, New Jersey's public charter schools stand ready to meet that challenge," said Harry Lee, President and CEO of the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association.