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The Record "...The move faces a vocal group of adamant critics, however, who counter that charter schools siphon precious funds and talented students from traditional public schools and sometimes discriminate against children with special needs. Charter schools are taxpayer-financed but independently operated...any approvals would be announced on Sept. 30. There are 73 charter schools in New Jersey, and 24 more are expected to open in September.
The Record - N.J. gets 58 charter school applications
Friday, April 1, 2011
Last updated: Friday April 1, 2011, 7:45 AM
The Record
The state received 58 applications for new charter schools by its Thursday deadline for another round of possible approvals, an Education Department spokesman said.
"The large number of applications speaks to the public’s strong interest in developing new public education options, especially in disadvantaged areas," said spokesman Alan Guenther. "We will exercise our authority to approve only the strongest applications."
The Christie administration has pushed to expand charter schools and called them laboratories for innovation. The move faces a vocal group of adamant critics, however, who counter that charter schools siphon precious funds and talented students from traditional public schools and sometimes discriminate against children with special needs. Charter schools are taxpayer-financed but independently operated.
Guenther would not release more details on the applicants on Thursday, and said any approvals would be announced on Sept. 30. There are 73 charter schools in New Jersey, and 24 more are expected to open in September.
— Leslie Brody
