Reject Destructive Changes to New Jersey's Charter School Regulations

On Wednesday July 11th the New Jersey State Board of Education is set to vote on a series of regulatory changes proposed by Acting Commissioner Cerf. One of the
primary goals of these changes is to allow virtual charter schools to operate
state wide in New Jersey, despite the fact that the law does not permit them. Virtual charter schools in other states, especially ones operated by K12. Inc, a
for-profit online charter schools company, have shown poor academic performance
and fiscal mismanagement. In addition, the state would be forcing local school
districts to give the virtual charter schools 90% of the per pupil costs as
they do for brick and mortar charter schools, even though the cost is much
lower. If Acting Commissioner Cerf is sincere in his promotion of high quality
charter schools in New Jersey, the regulatory changes should be rejected and he
should be forced to produce his evaluation of current charter schools in New
Jersey that was promised 'as soon as humanly possible' well over a year ago,
before regulatory changes are considered.

I encourage you to sign a petition against these regulatory changes at:

http://www.change.org/petitions/reject-destructive-changes-to-new-jersey-s-charter-school-regulations

Support responsible change to our charter school regulations that include careful
analysis of what is currently working and of what has not worked - Virtual
charter schools - in other states. We have one of the best public school
systems in the country. We should be protecting its quality, not opening the
doors to virtual charter schools that empirically do not offer the standards of
excellence that all our children deserve.