Statement from New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association President and CEO Harry Lee on Appropriations Committee Vote to Favorably Release A4496:

“On behalf of the 60,000 New Jersey public charter school students and their families, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Speaker Coughlin and Assembly members Lampitt, Karabinchak, and Wimberly for their leadership in championing school facilities funding mechanisms for all public school students. The proposed Public Charter and Renaissance School Facilities Loan Program to be established under this bill will be a significant and much-needed step towards ensuring equitable learning environments for all students in our state, particularly in the communities where they are most desperately needed. In the coming days, the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association will release a survey that shows that nearly 30 public charter schools are in buildings that are 100 years old or older and they have over $1 billion in school construction needs.

This legislative effort, supported today by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, finally recognizes that all public school students deserve a healthy, safe and modern facility. For the first time in our 26 year history, our schools will have a mechanism to fund critical infrastructure improvements that address failing plumbing systems, leaky roofs, and overcrowded classrooms.”

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