Another Year of Planning For Proposed Atlantic City Charter School

Atlantic City Community Charter School was granted an additional year of planning before it opens, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) announced on Monday, July 16.

It was one of 13 proposed charter schools granted that status, and the only one proposed for Atlantic County.

Nine charter schools were approved for opening in September of this year, none of which are scheduled to open in the county. Nine others were denied final approval.

The nine charter schools approved on Monday included: City Invincible Charter School in Camden; Knowledge A to Z Charter School in Camden; Thomas Edison Energy Charter School in  Franklin Township (Including Somerset), North Brunswick and South Brunswick; Beloved Charter School in Jersey City; Merit Preparatory of Newark Charter School in Newark; Newark Prep in Newark; Paulo Freire Charter School in Newark; 100 Legacy in Newark and Irvington; and Benjamin Banneker in Willingboro.

The number of charter schools in the state grows to 86, according to NJDOE, which also announced a new Performance Framework that will “set clear expectations for charter school performance and will serve as the basis for school evaluation, monitoring, and intervention.”

According to NJDOE, a Performance Framework for all existing charter schools, including , will be introduced by the end of the summer.

According to NJDOE, schools will be judged on a number of criteria, including how the school compares to similar “peer” schools; progress of individual subgroups of students and the school as a whole over time; whether the school is financially healthy and sustainable; whether the school has equitable admissions and enrollment practices to serve all students; and whether the school offers a safe and structured learning environment.

“According to data over the past several years, charter schools on average across the state are outperforming other district options for students in high-need communities.  However, we must also be honest that just as some district schools are failing students, some charter schools in New Jersey are also not performing at the level their students deserve,” NJDOE Acting Commissioner Chris Cerf said.  “Charter schools are granted autonomy in exchange for accountability, and we at the state level will continue to hold all charter schools accountable for results to ensure that they offer all students a high-quality education and an equality of opportunity.”

Over the past two years, with assistance from National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), NJDOE has increased oversight of charter schools, including the opening of 18 new schools and the closure of five for poor academic performance or organizational and fiscal issues. Another 13 schools were placed on probation. 

“We are deeply committed to ensuring that every student in New Jersey has access to a high-quality public school option that is a good fit for them, no matter whether that is a district, charter, magnet, or vocational school,” NJDOE Acting Commissioner Chris Cerf said. “We are confident that the charter schools we approved today will provide great options for the children of New Jersey.”

Before approving a charter school, NJDOE conducts a “preparedness review” in order to decide if an applicant that was approved in the previous round has the capacity to offer a strong educational program. Applicants were required to submit documentation showing they were in compliance by June 30. NJDOE officials conduct on-site visits before final the final decision is made, according to NJDOE.

“We must hold a high bar for any school that serves New Jersey students, and we are confident that these schools have the academic and operational components in place to provide a high-quality choice on day one,” Cerf said.