News - New Jersey Charter Schools Association

April 22, 2024 Press Release

NJPCSA Celebrates School Library Month with an Urgent Call to Fund New Jersey’s Public Charter School Facilities

Nearly 89% of public charter schools say their schools do not have libraries or that their school libraries are not adequate, highlighting a gap in resources that impedes student access to essential educational tools. Additionally, public charter schools are forced to fund their facilities from operating budgets, spending on average $2,000 per student, funding that would otherwise be used for teacher salaries, classroom supplies, and technology.

April 19, 2024 Press Release

NJPCSA Hosts ‘Charters Change Lives’ Gala to Honor Excellence in New Jersey’s Public Charter Schools

The gala featured Acting Commissioner of Education Kevin Dehmer and Mercer County Commissioner Samuel Frisby. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (Morris, Sussex and Warren Counties) and Assemblyman Avi Schnall (Monmouth and Ocean Counties) also attended the event. Over 250 educators, supporters, and advocates gathered to celebrate the transformative work of public charter schools, which currently serve over 62,000 students across 85 schools in New Jersey.

April 9, 2024 NJ Spotlight News

Op-Ed: NJ Lawmakers Must Do More to Fund Public Charter School Facilities

Gov. Phil Murphy’s efforts to fully fund New Jersey’s school aid formula have gone a long way toward getting resources into under-resourced schools, helping to close long-standing educational gaps in our state. But while his commitment to maximizing the formula is laudable, there is still much to be done to ensure equity in funding, especially for public charter schools’ facility needs.

April 8, 2024 Press Release

Math Growth: 50% of New Jersey’s Top 10 Highest Performing Districts Are Public Charters, Though Charters Serve Less Than 5% of the State’s Students

21 Public Charter Schools “Exceed Standards” on Student Growth Demonstrating Faster Recovery From Academic Pandemic Losses Compared To Rest of State

April 2, 2024 Press Release

NJPCSA Celebrates Three Public Charter Schools’ Achievements in Securing High Impact Tutoring Grants

“Public charter schools have always known the value of going above and beyond traditional educational methods to ensure every child succeeds, particularly in closing opportunity gaps. This investment by the New Jersey Department of Education into our public charter schools affirms the vital role that high-impact tutoring plays in student achievement and in making education equitable," states Harry Lee, President and CEO of the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association.

February 27, 2024 Press Release

NJPCSA Statement on Governor Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Message

"We look forward to working with the Murphy Administration and the Legislature throughout the budget process to ensure public charter schools receive vital facilities aid through the Charter School and Renaissance School Project Facilities Loan Program and the Emergent and Capital Maintenance Fund.”

January 30, 2024 NJ Spotlight News

Murphy’s pick as education commissioner is DOE veteran

“Kevin Dehmer’s reputation precedes him and his depth of knowledge, experience and relationships throughout the State will serve him well in this role. In particular, his unparalleled understanding of school funding and all fiscal matters will be critical as we look to continue to get resources into our most educationally disadvantaged communities,” Harry Lee, president and CEO of the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association, said in a statement.

January 17, 2024 Press Release

NJPCSA Applauds Governor Murphy for Signing Landmark Public Charter School Facilities Funding Legislation

The bill is the first-ever funding framework for New Jersey’s public charter schools since their inception 26 years ago, and will allow schools located in SDA districts to make critical upgrades to charter school facilities, start new charter school construction projects, or perform major renovation and rehabilitation projects.

December 20, 2023 TAPinto Paterson

NJ Public Charter School Parents Take to the Statehouse, Urging Governor and Lawmakers to Support Charter Facilities Funding

“As a public charter school parent and advocate for equity in education, I am deeply committed to ensuring that all public schools, including ours, can enhance their facilities, improve accessibility and create space in aging school buildings," affirmed Ketty Wilcox, whose child attends Roseville Community Charter School in Newark.

December 18, 2023 TAPinto Newark

Black, Latino ELA Students at Charter Schools in Newark Outpace N.J. Peers

TJ Best, senior advisor for the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association, praised the progress: “While there is still work to do, our remarkable public charter school educators deserve recognition for the undeniable progress our students have made... They’ve accelerated learning and provided strong social and emotional supports for our students, particularly students of color in our urban districts. We must follow the data and replicate what works because our students deserve the best.”

December 8, 2023 Press Release

2023 Test Scores: Black and Latino Students in Public Charter Schools Outperform Their Peers By Double Digits in English Language Arts and Math

Public charter schools continue to make significant student achievement gains for students of color in under-resourced communities throughout New Jersey.

December 4, 2023 Press Release

Statement from New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association President and CEO Harry Lee on Appropriations Committee Vote to Favorably Release A4496

“For the first time in our 26 year history, our schools will have a mechanism to fund critical infrastructure improvements that address failing plumbing systems, leaky roofs, and overcrowded classrooms.”