New Jersey

School Choice Policies

Charter School Choice

Does the state have charter schools?

Yes-

18A:36A-1 to 18A:36A-17

Are for-profit charter schools or management companies allowed?

Did not find-

We did not find information about for-profit charter schools or management organizations in New Jersey statutes. However, a New Jersey policy expert stated that New Jersey does allow for-profit charter schools.

Is there a cap on the number of charter schools?

No-

18A:36A-3(b) Charter School Program established

Are charters required to provide transportation for any students?

No-

"The students who reside in the school district in which the charter school is located shall be provided transportation to the charter school on the same terms and conditions as transportation is provided to students attending the schools of the district. Non-resident students shall receive transportation services pursuant to regulations established by the State board."

According to the New Jersey Department of Education:
"The transportation of students to and from a charter school is the responsibility of the board of education of the school district in which the student resides."

18A:36A-13 Transportation for Students

NJ Department of Education- School Finance Frequently Asked Questions

Can charter schools employ uncertified teachers?

No-

All classroom teachers and professional support staff shall hold New Jersey certification.

18A:36A-14(c) Authority of board of trustees; employees

Virtual School Choice

Do state statutes allow for full-time virtual schools?

Did not find-

We did not find mention of virtual schools in New Jersey statutes. Education Commission of the States states that state law does not allow for virtual charter schools.

Education Commission of the States 50-State Comparison

Are virtual schools required to track attendance?

Did not find

Do virtual schools have to comply with state teacher certification requirements?

Did not find

Private School Choice

Does the state have voucher programs?

No-

No voucher programs found.

EdChoice School Choice in America

Does the state have educational expense tuition tax credits or deductions?

No-

No educational expense tax credits or deductions found.

EdChoice School Choice in America

Can students use vouchers to attend religious schools?

Not Applicable

Is there a cap on the number of students or private schools participating in voucher programs?

Not Applicable

Are voucher students in private schools required to take any standardized tests?

Not Applicable

Can private schools be removed from voucher programs based on performance?

Not Applicable

Are private schools in voucher programs required to provide transportation?

Not Applicable

Interdistrict School Choice

Does the state have interdistrict choice programs?

Yes-

"The Commissioner of Education shall establish an interdistrict public school choice program which shall provide for the creation of choice districts. A choice district may enroll students across district lines in designated schools of the choice district."

18A:36B-16 Interdistrict public school choice program

Are receiving schools or districts required to provide transportation to any students?

No-

Transportation is the responsibility of the sending district: "Transportation, or aid in-lieu-of transportation, shall be provided to an elementary school pupil who lives more than two miles from the choice district school of attendance and to a secondary school pupil who lives more than two and one-half miles from the choice district school of attendance, provided the choice district school is not more than 20 miles from the residence of the pupil."

18A:36B-22(a) Provision of transportation, aid in-lieu-of transportation

Page last updated: December 2020

Click here to download the State Policy Spreadsheet. Click here to download the State Policy Map Data Memo.

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The State Policy Map provides a snapshot of school choice policy found in laws passed by the legislative bodies, for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., based on information gathered from state statutes in fall 2019; data checks continued through December 2020. Information on this site may not include the most up-to-date policy information. The State Policy Map does not systematically reflect state Department of Education administrative policies, rules, or regulations. All content on this site is provided for informational purposes only. Links to third-party websites are for the user’s convenience; neither REACH nor any affiliated entities endorse the contents of third-party sites.

Note: On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Montana's exclusion of religious schools from the state's tax credit scholarship program was unconstitutional (Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue 591). The responses to the question "Can students use vouchers to attend religious schools?" were collected before this ruling and therefore do not reflect any changes resulting from the Espinoza decision.