Statement by Jeanne Allen, CER President: New Jersey Charter School Approval Process Undermines Families
CER Press Release
Washington, DC
October 4, 2011
The president of The Center for Education Reform, released the following statement expressing disappointment in the New Jersey Department of Education’s decision to approve only four charter schools out of 60 submitted applications:
“Tens of thousands of New Jersey students are stuck in failing schools across not just the 31 so-called Abbott districts, but through the state, no matter whether families find themselves rich or poor. Thousands more anxiously wait on lists to get into a charter school.
“The state created the charter school law to ensure the creation of much needed educational opportunities for children. While the Christie Administration has approved many schools before, it has come under criticism for its processes and approach. This time around, the process was different, but equally as flawed, as state education personnel were joined by non-state technical reviewers who together managed a process that recommended only four charter schools for acceptance and denied 54 others.
“Community activists, business leaders, parents and educators whose lives have been touched in myriad ways by the state’s schools sought to bring new ideas, proven practices and more accountability to education. And yet their attempts were met by unenthusiastic reviewers and decision makers who focused on process more than product, and failed to get to know the applicants or their background enough to discern their true ability to serve their communities.
“New Jersey’s students deserve their chance at success and that requires giving them the freedom to explore educational options tailored to their specific needs.
“Gov. Chris Christie has gained much-deserved star status on the education reform circuit for his push to expand quality choices for children, improve the state’s charter law, increase charter schools and to bring scholarship vouchers to the state. Sadly the charter approvals this month do not reflect the passion and commitment of the state’s chief executive.
“The need is great. This missed opportunity to create more charter schools for its students is further proof that New Jersey needs to adopt best practice chartering, by creating multiple authorizers to allow other bodies besides the state to approve charters. As important is the passage and implementation of the Opportunity Scholarship Act.
