Charter schools are big winners in Corzine budget
Many will see 20% fund hikes after lagging

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
BY JOHN MOONEY
Star-Ledger Staff

Long shortchanged in state and local funding, a majority of New Jersey's charter schools stand to see double-digit gains under Gov. Jon Corzine's new funding plan, according to state figures.

Payments to the 56 existing charter schools from state and local funds are expected to rise 20 percent overall under the plan, or about $39.6 million over last year, according to the state.

The news had been anxiously awaited by charter schools after their figures had been left out of previous aid projections for Cor zine's funding plan.

Under the plan's complex rules, not all charter schools are benefiting, and some worry about poten tial cuts in their programs. But for some fast-growing charters, especially in urban districts, the additional money will be a windfall and help make up for years of underfunding, state and school officials said.

A chief complaint has been that charter schools in urban areas did not receive state money that went to districts under the Abbott v. Burke school-equity rulings.

"For years, they have not been getting this aid that others have been receiving," Assistant Education Commissioner Katie Attwood said. "This is money that they were due."

The figures are based on projected enrollments and won't be final until the fall.

TEAM Academy in Newark is expected to get an additional $5 million, or a nearly 80 percent increase, to help pay for the nearly 270 students the school plans to add next year.

"This is substantially more favorable funding for us," said Ryan Hill, director of the school that now encompasses three different campuses. "Although we're not there yet, it brings us closer to equity with the Newark district schools."

But the release also brought deep worry to a handful of schools that had expected big increases under the plan but will see far less. Several are in Hudson County, where five of 10 charters schools will see no increases at all.

"Most of us aren't feeling the 20 percent increase, that's for sure," said Shelley Skinner, development director for the Learning Community Charter School in Jersey City. "We're all just flabbergasted. What does the future hold?"

The leader of the state's charter school association said aid for many charters will not keep up with increased enrollments, essentially leading to reduced funding for their programs. The association's analysis showed more than 20 schools may see cuts in their per- pupil amounts.

"When there is any sort of grow ing enrollment like they have in Jersey City, they are getting so much less per pupil," said Jessani Gordon, director of the New Jersey Charter Public School Association. "This is really putting the brakes on their ability to expand."

John Mooney may be reached at jmooney@starledger.com, or (973) 392-1548.