How are charter schools funded in NJ?
Charter schools are free and are prohibited from charging tuition to students who reside in the district. N.J.S.A. 18A:36A-8(a). Charter schools are funded at roughly 90% of the district’s per pupil budget for the specific grade level. These budgets are comprised of state and local shares and are paid to the charter school by the district. N.J.S.A. 18A:36A-12, et.seq.. Charter schools also receive 100% of categorical aid attributable to individual students (special education, early childhood programs, bilingual programs, etc.). These funds are state and federal funds and are also paid to the charter school by the district. N.J.S.A. 18A:36A-12(b). Charter schools located in the Abbott Districts do not receive the NJ Supreme Court-mandated Abbott parity aid. The majority of charter schools are located in the Abbott Districts, including Camden, Jersey City, Newark, Paterson and Trenton. The Abbott Districts receive the charter school students’ Abbott aid, but are not required to pass the
