Representatives of the New  Jersey Public Charter Schools  Association (NJPCSA) joined over 30 public charter school  parents from Camden, Paterson, Newark, Trenton, Plainfield, Jersey City and other communities at the State House yesterday, meeting with the Governor and lawmakers as part of their #SameKidsSameNeeds campaign calling for public charter and renaissance schools to finally receive access to state funding for their facilities.

“We are once again taking our message straight to the halls of power in Trenton: whether they are in public charter schools or traditional district schools, all of our students deserve fair treatment and a shot at a great education in a safe, healthy, secure and modern school environment,” said Harry Lee, President and CEO of NJPCSA. “Charter facilities needs continue to grow, placing a tremendous strain on school budgets and taking dollars away from student learning. We need a solution now.” 

Parents also hand delivered 10,000 signed postcards of support to the Governor’s Office, while the public charter school community has already collectively sent nearly 500,000 letters to the Governor and lawmakers. The letters voice support for bill A4496/S3247, which creates a low interest loan program for public charter and renaissance schools to help repair and upgrade leaky roofs, broken boilers and HVAC systems, and to fix overcrowding in classrooms. 

“Public charter and renaissance schools serve one in five public school students in our most

economically disadvantaged communities, with 91% being students of color and 76% qualifying for freeor reduced-price lunch,” emphasized T.J. Best, Senior Advisor at NJPCSA. “It’s time to move beyond the ‘district’ and ‘charter’ labels and acknowledge that these are ALL our children. Every child needs our support to ensure all public school buildings create an optimal environment for learning.”

New Jersey is one of the few states in the country where public charter schools don’t receive state  funding for facilities needs. On average, public  charter schools spend $2,000-per pupil annually on facilities – money which comes from their operating budgets, diverting dollars from critical needs such as teacher salaries, classroom supplies and instructional programs.

As a public charter school parent and advocate for  equity in education, I am deeply committed to  ensuring that all public schools, including ours, can enhance their facilities, improve accessibility and create space in aging school buildings,” affirmed Ketty Wilcox, whose child attends Roseville Community Charter School in Newark. “However, unlike traditional district schools, we lack access to state funding, forcing us to redirect critical funds needed for our children’s learning needs.” 

The Public Charter School Lobby Day coincides with the relaunch of NJPCSA’s #SameKidsSameNeeds campaign, which includes three commercials featuring the voices of teachers, school leaders and parents in Paterson, Jersey City and Newark highlighting the facilities challenges facing New Jersey’s public charter schools and the lack of state funding to address them. The ads can be viewed at www.FacilitiesFunding4AllKids.org. 

“It’s unfair that my child’s public charter school lacks access to state funding to fix their building,” said Kathyann Mcknie, whose child attends Queen City Academy Charter School in Plainfield. “I’m asking the Legislature and Governor Murphy to champion fairness for ALL public school students. Let’s put our money where our kids are and make sure every learning environment is a place where dreams can take root and grow.” For more information about the #SameKidsSameNeeds campaign, follow the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association on Facebook and Twitter for more updates.