NJ Spotlight published the following article on January 22, 2014. To read the full article, click here.
ASSEMBLYMAN UNVEILS MUCH-ANTICIPATED FINAL DRAFT OF CHARTER LEGISLATION
JOHN MOONEY | JANUARY 22, 2014
A new bill will soon be added to the debate over how – and how much – to revise the state’s nearly 20-year-old charter school law.
State Assemblyman Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) has completed a final draft of the bill, which would create a single authorizing board to review, approve and monitor charter schools, in addition to the state Department of Education.
His long-awaited and closely-watched legislation would also add some new guidance to help charter schools follow the demographic patterns of the districts they serve, although it contains no explicit requirements for schools to take that approach.
The bill would also give the charters more flexibility and potential funding, creating a state loan fund for charter schools and offering them first-refusal rights to vacated public school-district buildings.
In one of the most debated components, his bill would not require a local vote for final approval of charters, as called for by some local school advocates and in other proposed legislation. Singleton’s bill would, however, require public hearings on charter applications.