Expansion Of 3 Bergen County Charter Schools Approved

ENGLEWOOD, NJ -The Englewood on the Palisades Charter School is among three in Bergen County and 16 in New Jersey that can expand their enrollment, state education officials said.

The Englewood K to 5 school received permission to grow by 252 seats. The two other schools: Teaneck Community Charter School, a K to 8 school, and the Bergen Arts and Sciences Charter, which has campuses in Garfield, Hackensack, and Lodi may increase a maximum of 320 and 1,400 students, respectively.

The Englewood and Teaneck schools we not up for their five-year, state-required renewal, but were allowed to expand by amending their charters.

The Bergen Arts and Sciences Charter School previous maximum was 1,040 students.

All 19 charter schools that were up for renewal in the 2015-2016 school year and that planned to continue to operate next school year were reauthorized for an additional five-year period.

With these approvals, along with previously approved enrollment increases, there will be a total of 50,711 authorized charter school seats available in New Jersey in the 2016-2017 school year — a 10-percent increase over this school year.

“We have a moral and ethical duty to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality school,” said state Education Commissioner David C. Hespe.Expanding the number charter schools and seats available ensures that students and parents, especially in our academically struggling districts, have more options to achieve success.”

There are currently 89 charter schools in New Jersey. Since 2010, 39 new charter schools have opened and the Department has closed 17 due to academic, operational or financial deficiencies.