Charter School In East Brunswick Gets State Nod To Expand

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Hatikvah International Academy Charter School based in East Brunswick received good news this week from the NJ Department of Education (DOE).

The Murphy administration granted expansion approval to the school along with 10 other public charter schools in the state. Most of the schools are located in some of the state’s poorest districts.

These schools will now be able to offer more grade levels and seats for students.

More than 28,000 students are currently on charter school waitlists, according to the data collected by the NJDOE.

“We applaud the Murphy Administration for evaluating the data and making performance-based decisions that will put thousands of students on the path to educational success. Communities win when we increase public school options that have a track record of meeting students’ needs,” said Harry Lee, President and CEO of the NJ Public Charter Schools Association (NJPCSA).

Last year hundreds of students and parents gathered at the State House Annex in Trenton to protest the state’s denial to expand the schools. More: Charter Schools Rally In Mercer, Protest State Denial To Expand

The NJPCSA had argued that the state’s denial will displace hundreds of low-income families of color from attending high-performing schools.

Among charter school students, 46 percent are Black, 39 percent are Hispanic and 71 percent are from low-income households.

“These decisions will allow thousands of Black and Latino children throughout the Garden State to get the education that best meets their individual needs,” said TJ Best, Senior Advisor of NJPCSA.

According to the charter school association, Black and Latino students enrolled in charter schools are twice as likely to be proficient in English language arts and math compared to their district peers.

Out of 2,937 seats requested, 2,299 or 78 percent was approved by the state.

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