State Shows Off Charter School Scores, But Results Mixed at Unity

The Christie administration is pointing to the performance of charter schools statewide as evidence his plan for school reforms is desperately needed.

The state Department of Education released data showing charters in urban areas generally outperforming other schools in their host districts on standardized tests given in 2010. Also included in the data is United Charter School in Morris Township—which shows a more mixed result.

"The data affirms the need for Gov. Christie’s reform proposals to grow the number of high-quality charter schools, expand choice for children in failing schools, and reform New Jersey’s charter law to attract high-quality operators to the state," the DOE said in a press release.

But in Unity's case, test scores weren't always above those of the Morris School District overall. Some scores were lower and only a few showed a marked difference in either direction from the Morris District.

Morris Township-Morris Plains Patch recently featured Unity Charter School in an article discussing its approach to learning. The 13-year-old school, which recently underwendt an expansion, aims to instill respect in students and to provide them with a learning environment that stimulates their creativity.

Tuesday's statement from the Department of Education focuses mainly on charters located in former Abbott districts, those that were court-ordered to receive state assistance to meet the New Jersey constitutional requirement of providing a "thorough and efficient" school system for all children.

In those schools, students performed higher on the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge and the High School Proficiency Assessment tests in 2010. For eighth-grade students, 79 percent of the charter schools in former Abbott districts scored higher than their home districts in language arts, while 69 percent of the charter schools scored higher than their home districts in Math.

“The data shows us that the innovation and creativity that drove the charter movement in the first place are getting real results for our children,” Acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf said in the statement. “High-quality charters in New Jersey are shining examples of why we can no longer accept that zip code equals destiny.  It’s critical that we act immediately to strengthen and expand charter schools in the state by implementing Gov. Christie’s education reforms.”

In Newark, all but two of the nine charter schools outperformed the district average for math and all but two out-scored the district average in language arts, the state said. In Camden, all four charters outperformed the district averages in language arts and math.

“These charter schools are living proof that a firm dedication to students and a commitment to best education practices will result in high student achievement in some of New Jersey’s lowest-income areas,” Carlos Perez, chief executive officer of the New Jersey Charter School Associatio, said in the statement from the DOE. He pointed to NJASK data for third-grade language arts, where more than half the charters outperformed the schools in their home districts, and of those, more than 75 percent were located in former Abbott districts.

“With charters—as with all schools—accountability is critical. Charters are not permanent and must be renewed on a regular basis, helping ensure accountability,” Newark Charter School Fund CEO Mashea Ashton said in the DOE statement. “The data shows that charter schools are working hard and successfully providing a high quality education for their students.”

Christie said at a recent town hall meeting in Paramus that New Jerseyans would be "astonished" by the number of charter schools opening this year. He followed that up Tuesday by approving 23 new charter schools. None are in Morris County. The schools and the governor's office's descriptions of each are:

• Arete: K-4 (300) East Orange, Orange – Essex County: Arete Charter School will offer a single-sex classroom, co-ed school environment.  The school will offer single-gender classroom settings to differentiate instruction and drive student achievement.
• Atlantic City Community Charter School:K-8 (950) Atlantic City – Atlantic County: AC Community will seek to replicate the success of the high-performing Chester Community Charter School in Chester, Pennsylvania.  The school will focus on high expectations and strong student outcomes for urban students.
• Atlantic  Preparatory Charter School: 9-12 (552) Atlantic City – Atlantic County: Application presents a sound plan for a blended learning school program.  The blended learning would incorporate online learning into the regular school day as well as provide increased access to schoolwork for students and families while not in school.
• Bright Horizon Charter School: K-8 (306) Penns Grove-Carneys Point - Salem County: Charter school will aim to serve foster care students or students at risk of being placed in an out-of-home setting though the school would be open to all students.  The school will establish partnership with local organizations and agencies to offer comprehensive wrap-around services for its student population.
• Camden Community Charter School: K-8 (950) Camden – Camden County: Camden Community will seek to replicate the success of the high-performing Chester Community Charter School in Chester, Pennsylvania.  The charter school will focus on high expectations and strong student outcomes for urban students.
• Dr. Lena Edwards: K-8 (396) Jersey City – Hudson County: The Dr. Lena Edwards Charter School will offer a classical education program with a focus on character education. 
• Dr. Therman Evans Charter School for Excellence: 6-8 (225) Linden, Elizabeth, Roselle – Union County: The Dr. Therman Evans Charter School will offer a program focused on character, leadership, and culture. 
• Forest Hill Charter School: K-8 (80) Newark — Essex County: Forest Hill will provide a comprehensive program to serve students with autism and Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD). 
• Global Visions: K-4 (165) Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township, Mullica Township — Atlantic County: Global Visions charter school will be centered on project-based learning and teaching to the multiple intelligences of students. 
• Great Oaks: 6-10 (331) Newark - Essex: Great Oaks program aims to serve minority and low-income students in a rigorous college-preparatory environment.  Great Oaks is modeled on the successful MATCH school in Boston and other high-performing charter schools. 
• Kingdom: K-6 (210) Gloucester Township: The Kingdom Charter School will offer an experiential learning program that addresses the various learning styles of children. 
•  M.E.T.S.: K-6 (210) Jersey City: The application presented a plan for a program that will have a strong mathematics, engineering, technology and science curriculum. METS is planning to partner with Liberty Science Center to implement the curriculum.
• Martha Palmer Chaneyfield Charter School: K-4 (400) Newark – Essex County: Martha Palmer Chaneyfield Charter School will offer a community-based school committed to excellence for its students. 
• Millville: K-5 (216) Millville – Cumberland County: Millville Charter will focus on academic excellence with an emphasis on the arts and will build on the successes at Vineland Public Charter School. 
• New Day Charter High School: 9-12 (100) Newark – Essex County: New Day Charter High School will offer a program focused on academic achievement and supporting the whole child.  Specifically it will address the issues of substance abuse, wellness, and developing strong decision-making skills for its students.
• New Jersey Virtual Academy: K-12 (1200) Newark – Essex County: New Jersey Virtual Academy will offer a virtual learning program for students in Newark. 
• New Jersey Virtual: 10-12 (300) Camden, Perth Amboy, Neptune Township, Paterson: New Jersey Virtual will offer a blended learning program for high school students who have dropped out of school. 
• People’s Prep: 9-12 (380) Newark – Essex County: People’s Prep will be a school focused on ensuring academic excellence for all students, developing strong character, and building a commitment to community.
• Roseville Community: K-4 (330) Newark – Essex County: Roseville Community Charter School will offer a rigorous academic program committed to developing the character and discipline in students that is required to achieve academic excellence in high school, college, and beyond.
• Shalom: K-8 (240) Englewood, Teaneck – Bergen County: This application presents a plan for an academically rigorous, Hebrew language immersion program.
• Spirit Prep: 9-12 (600) East Orange, Irvington, Newark – Essex County: Spirit Prep will offer a blended learning model of project-based learning, face-to-face learning, and online instruction integrated with instrumental music.
• Vailsburg Prep: 9-12 (600) Newark – Essex County: Vailsburg Prep proposes to open a high school that will serve students using a research-based, blended learning curriculum.  In this model, traditional classroom instruction will be supplemented with online learning.
• Willingboro: K-5, 9-12 (410) Willingboro – Burlington County: Wililngboro Academy Charter School will offer a curriculum that infuses technology and the arts throughout all content areas. Additionally, the school will focus on character development and community involvement.