Tell Lawmakers to Support Charter and Renaissance Inclusion in A-4496!

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Tell Governor Murphy and Legislators to Support Facilities Funding for Charter and Renaissance Schools!

Dear Public Charter School Supporter,

New Jersey’s public charter schools are under attack again! Our opponents are fighting to remove public charter and renaissance students from a new bill (A4496/S3247) that reforms New Jersey’s state-funded school construction program. The bill would create a new era of opportunity for students in public charter and renaissance schools in our 31 poorest school districts by creating a framework that will grant them access to facilities funding for the first time ever.

Since 2000, New Jersey has invested over $17 billion in school construction - and zero has been provided to public charter schools. Instead, our schools are forced to pay for their school facilities through operating dollars, money that would otherwise be spent on teachers’ salaries and in the classroom.

We have students in buildings that are over 100 years old where the pipes burst, boilers break, and roofs leak. Just like our traditional school counterparts, public charter and renaissance schools need to upgrade air quality systems, install new windows and roofs, and increase space in aging school facilities. This is about FAIRNESS and EQUITY so all students, including charter and renaissance students, can attend safe, secure, and healthy schools.

Please send a letter to Governor Murphy and the Legislature to demand that public charter and renaissance schools be treated fairly and remain in A4496/S3247!

Sincerely,

Harry Lee, President and CEO

New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association

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120 NJ State Legislators

Subject: Same Kids, Same Needs: Support Facilities Funding for ALL Public Schools!

Message:

Dear Lawmaker,

Your support of public charter and renaissance schools in bill A4496/S3247, which reconfigures New Jersey's School Development Authority (SDA), is vital.

Public charter and renaissance schools are public schools and educate 66,000 students throughout New Jersey. One in five children attending a public school in an SDA district attends a public charter or renaissance school. The inclusion of public charter and renaissance schools in A4496/S3247 fundamentally comes down to EQUITY and FAIRNESS. Students who attend charter schools are the same students who attend traditional district schools.

- 90% of public charter school students attend schools in SDA districts
- 91% of public charter school students in SDA districts are students of color
- 77% of public charter students in SDA districts qualify for free or reduced price lunch
- 13% of all Black public school students in New Jersey attend a charter school
- 6% of all Latino public school students in New Jersey attend a charter school

Despite leaking pipes, broken boilers, crumbling roofs, crowded classrooms and an estimated $900 million in facilities needs, charters have never had access to facilities funding. Conversely, since 2000, New Jersey has invested over $17 billion in school construction for SDA districts, regular operating districts (RODs), and vocational schools. All while charter schools have been forced to pay for their school facilities through operating dollars, money that would otherwise be spent on teachers’ salaries and in the classroom.

Under the bill, for the first time, a framework for public charter and renaissance schools in SDA districts to receive future state funding for school construction projects has been created. The bill establishes a process to allow public charter and renaissance schools to apply for state funding for approved facilities projects. It creates a separate fund dedicated to public charter and renaissance school projects, similar to past set-asides for vocational schools, but does not appropriate any funding. The bill also gives SDA and the New Jersey Department of Education oversight over a separate approval process and prioritization criteria for charter schools. These provisions will ensure that public charter and renaissance schools are not competing with other traditional school districts for future funding. Public charter schools must be good stewards of any public funds and the bill contains numerous safeguards, including ensuring only charter schools with a proven track record of academic and operational success are eligible for future funding.

PLEASE DEMAND EQUITY AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS and support the inclusion of public charter and renaissance schools in A4496/S3247. Charter school students, just like their traditional district counterparts, deserve to attend safe and healthy schools.

Please support ALL New Jersey children and keep public charter and renaissance schools in A4496/S3247.

Thank you!

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Tell Governor Murphy and Legislators to Support Facilities Funding for Charter and Renaissance Schools!

Sorry, we're not targeting any representatives in your district. But, you can still help!

The comment period for this document is now closed. But, you can still help!

Thank you for standing up for ALL New Jersey public school students and working to keep public charter and renaissance schools in A4496/S3247. Every child deserves to attend a safe, secure, and healthy school.

Tell Governor Murphy and Legislators to Support Facilities Funding for Charter and Renaissance Schools!

Sorry, we're not targeting any representatives in your district. But, you can still help!

The comment period for this document is now closed. But, you can still help!

Thank you for standing up for ALL New Jersey public school students and working to keep public charter and renaissance schools in A4496/S3247. Every child deserves to attend a safe, secure, and healthy school.

Please share this action with anyone else who might be interested in lending their voice.