NJ Department of Education Reference

The NJ Department of Education authorizes, monitors, and assesses all aspects of New Jersey Charter Schools. The Department oversees a rigorous application process and review, the initial granting of four-year charters and subsequent five-year renewals based on charter school performance in governance, finance, and academics.

The initial legislation creating New Jersey’s Charter Schools in 1995 states that charter schools “can assist in promoting comprehensive educational reform by providing a mechanism for the implementation of a variety of educational approaches which may not be available in the traditional public school classroom. Specifically, charter schools offer the potential to improve pupil learning; increase for students and parents the educational choices available when selecting the learning environment which they feel will be the most appropriate; encourage the use of different and innovative learning methods; establish a new form of accountability for schools; require the measurement of learning outcomes; make the school the unit for educational improvement; and establish new professional opportunities for teachers.” (P.L. 1995 c. 426, N.J.S.A. 18A:36A)

More information on the NJ Department of Education Charter School program can be found at: http://www.nj.gov/education/chartsch/