Senate Committee Hearing on Charter School Program Act of 1995

Trenton – On Monday, December 16th, 2024, the Senate Higher Education Committee will hold a public hearing to evaluate the status of charter schools within the state of New Jersey, specifically the impact of the Charter School Program Act of 1995 on New Jersey’s students, announced Chairman Senator Vin Gopal. The committee will receive testimony from a selection of invited relevant professional organizations and academic experts. The hearing is intended to examine the nearly 30-year-old statute to identify successes and explore potential updates to the statute.

“Charter school laws have not been revisited in many years. As questions arise about accountability and the responsible use of public funds, this hearing will begin an important conversation about oversight and ensuring charter schools operate in the best interest of students and taxpayers,” said Senator Gopal (D-Monmouth).

Participants providing testimony will include, but are not limited to:

NJ Public Charter School Association

NJ Education Association

NJ Children’s Foundation

Dr. Mark Weber, Education Policy Analyst and Instructor

Dr. Sarah Cohodes, Associate Professor of Public Policy

Dr. Macke Raymond, Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO)

NJ School Boards Association

The Department of Education and AFT NJ will be submitting written comments.

The Senate Higher Education Committee will convene on:

Date: Monday, December 16, 2024

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location: Committee Room 4, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ

The hearing will be available via the OLS website (https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/live-proceedings).