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Schools

Charter Schools in Suburbia Under Debate

So-called boutique charter schools, with specialized curricula, are raising issues in suburban enclaves.

Suburban charter schools almost sound like a contradiction in terms. After all, charters typically conjure up the image of families seeking alternatives to gritty urban schools.

But while some suburban charters have been in existence from the start in places like Princeton and Morristown, the small, independent schools are becoming a growing presence—and a growing source of tension as well.

A combination of factors are at work, not the least of which is Gov. Chris Christie’s push to expand charters statewide. Much of the attention has been on so-called boutique schools, with narrow focuses like Hebrew or Mandarin. That specialization is raising concerns in host communities as to why they have to support special-interest institutions.

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But on the eve of this week’s budget votes, ongoing recession fears and tight public resources that have left everyone struggling for money underlie the tension. School districts in suburban and urban areas generally pay charters 90 percent of the district’s per-pupil costs.

Not every district is grumbling, by any means, but the complaints in districts like Princeton, East Brunswick and South Brunswick are getting louder.

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NJ Spotlight and Patch.com have teamed up to examine the issues that have surfaced over the growing charter school movement in New Jersey, especially in suburban districts.

It's a tension that's not likely to ease, with few remedies to the cash crunch on the horizon besides some proposals that would allow districts to block the charters altogether. All this with a public yet to make up its mind about charters, either, at least according to the most recent opinion polls.

Continue reading this story on NJ Spotlight.

More Coverage of Charter Schools on Patch:

The mission of charter schools—to promote innovation—has often sparked clashes with local school boards. Initially, those debates often were between reformers trying to shake up poorly performing urban school systems and entrenched school bureaucracies. But as more specialized charter schools open or are proposed in towns where the schools are already top notch, questions have arisen as to the role charter schools should play. We asked Patch editors in communities throughout New Jersey to take a look at the status of charter schools in their community.

East Brunswick: Questioning a charter school's legal right to exist. Public school officials say their relations with the local Hebrew language charter school are cordial, but they've filed a lawsuit saying it should never have been approved.

Gloucester: Can a mom who schooled her child at home compete with the public schools? Wandria McCall-Hampton thought she could do a better job educating her son than a school teacher. But can the charter school she's starting compete with the public school system?

Hoboken: Can the public schools compete, by getting better? A new Spanish language immersion charter school has more applicants than it can admit. With nearly a fourth of all students in charter schools, can Hoboken public schools compete—by getting better?

Livingston: Do some of the best public schools in New Jersey need two Mandarin language charter schools? Dueling proposals vie for support in Essex County.

Morristown, Morris Township and Morris Plains: But they keep an eye on its impact on their budget.

Princeton: Charter schools have existed in Princeton for more than a decade. So why is there such a fight over the latest proposal?

Red Bank: Although school district officials complain that they have no control over the funds they must provide to charter schools, charter school supporters say they have a harder time raising money than do normal public schools.

South Brunswick: A debate or a shouting match? A proposed Mandarin-immersion charter school has local residents literally yelling at each other.

Teaneck: Innovation or duplication? School officials say a planned Hebrew-immersion charter school will draw students from private schools that already provide a similar curriculum.

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