Prospective Charter Schools In The Oranges Apply To NJ DOE

Several towns and education districts may see new charter schools if the New Jersey Department of Education approves the 24 requests it saw during its most recent application cycle.

The latest cycle – which ended March 31 – resulted in two dozen new applications across the state from prospective charter schools seeking to open in 2017, according to a report.

In the Oranges, the following schools applied for a charter license:

• The Duke Ellington Charter School of the Arts - East Orange (would serve about 300 students in grades 6-8
• 21st Century Charter Community School for Blended Learning and Language - East Orange (would serve 120 to 240 students in grades pre-K, progressing to pre-K to 2)
• Immersion - East Orange (would serve 120 to 240 students in grades pre-K, progressing to pre-K-2)
• Larry D. Gooding Performing Arts Charter School - East Orange, Irvington and Newark (would serve 90 to 180 students in grades 3-5, progressing to 3-8)

Read the full NJ Spotlight article here.

The list of applicants includes the following schools:

• The Holistic Charter School for Behavior Therapy - Howell and Lakewood Districts, Monmouth and Ocean Counties
• Ocean Academy Charter School - Lakewood
• Global Learning Charter School - Paterson
• Pneuma Academy Charter School for Science, Health and Technology - Newark
• Pneuma Academy Charter School for Science, Health and Technology - Plainfield
• The Duke Ellington Charter School of the Arts - East Orange
• The Frank Sinatra Charter School of the Arts - Bloomfield
• Innovation STEM Charter School - Newark
• MIGHT Leadership Elementary Charter School - Paterson
• Universal Business Academy - Englewood
• Ailanthus Charter School - Franklin Township, New Brunswick
• Brown Academy Leadership Career Readiness Learning Center Charter School - Trenton
• Fulbright Academy Charter School of Montclair - Montclair
• Justine Academy Charter School - Lebanon
• College Achieve Greater Asbury Park Charter School - Asbury Park public schools and Neptune Township public schools
• College Achieve Paterson Charter School - Paterson
• Madame CJ Walker Charter School of Entrepreneurship and Job Development - Newark
• Paterson Dual Language (PaDuLa) Public Charter School - Paterson
• Math, Science and Technology Community Charter School - Pennsauken, Merchantville and Maple Shade
• Global Community Charter School - North Plainfield
• The Legacy Charter School of The Arts & Humanities - Wilingboro
• Elite Academy Charter School - Jersey City
• 21st Century Charter Community School for Blended Learning and Language - East Orange
• Immersion - East Orange
• Larry D. Gooding Performing Arts Charter School - East Orange, Irvington and Newark

If the last round of charter school applications is any indication, however, not all of the hopeful institutions will get what they want.

According to state officials, New Jersey only approved three new charter schools after the last DOE application cycle in October, although it approved 16 expansion requests and 19 applications for renewal.

• See related article: Christie Supports Charter Schools, Will 'Run Over' Newark Mayor To Get Them

According to the NJDOE, a charter school applicant team must meet the department's “rigorous multi-stage approval process.”

After receiving initial application approval, the department conducts a preparedness visit and reviews the school's academic, fiscal and operational components to “ensure that the charter school applicant has the capacity to provide a high-quality educational program from the first day of school.”

New charter school approvals last for four years, and renewals last for five years, the DOE states.

According to the NJDOE, there are currently 89 charter schools in New Jersey. Since 2010, 39 new charter schools have opened and the state has closed 17 due to “academic, operational or financial deficiencies.”

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