U.S. Education Department Awards New Jersey $14.5M for Charter Schools

New Jersey has been awarded a $14.5 million federal grant to help launch new charter schools, grow existing successful charters and share ideas between the schools and local districts, state officials announced Tuesday.

"We have and will continue to support the expansion of high-quality charter schools as one way to ensure that all students have great educational options available to them," Gov. Chris Christie said in a statement. "Every student in New Jersey deserves a choice of where they attend school, not only to ensure that no child is assigned to a failing school, but also so that families can select a school that gives their child the best opportunity for success."

Minnesota and Massachusetts were also awarded a portion of the $54.8 million total, according to federal education officials.

“High-quality charter schools have an important role to play in the overall strategy of successful school reform,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement. “These states have an opportunity to spread successful practices and expand effective public charter school choices for more students and parents.”

The Christie Administration has made charter schools a key component of the state’s education reform agenda. Officials have pointed to increased accountably for the schools and expanded staff in the state’s charter school office.

In Teaneck, two recent charter school proposals have sparked controversy. State officials rejected a plan to launch last year and the opening of a Hebrew-immersion charter school .