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11-27-12 Commissioner Cerf comments on Stanford CREDO Report re NJ Charter Schools
"...The findings actually buck the trend of similar CREDO studies in other states. CREDO finds that, on the whole, New Jersey charter school students make larger learning gains in both reading and math than their traditional public school peers. This is especially true for minority students and low-income students, with some of the largest gains in Newark, demonstrating that charter schools, on the whole, are providing much needed options for New Jersey students...This report is not a criticism of the largely high-performing schools in New Jersey, nor the hard work that all public school educators in the state put in each day. Instead...", it further reinforces that all students learn differently, and that we should ensure that our highest-need students have a choice that meets their needs

From: Chris Cerf [mailto:cdcerf@doe.state.nj.us]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 1:56 PM
Subject: NJDOE Weekly Broadcast - November 27, 2012

Dear colleagues,

This morning, a national independent research group, the Center for Research on Educational Outcomes (CREDO) out of Stanford, released an in-depth evaluation on charter school performance in New Jersey. The findings actually buck the trend of similar CREDO studies in other states. CREDO finds that, on the whole, New Jersey charter school students make larger learning gains in both reading and math than their traditional public school peers. This is especially true for minority students and low-income students, with some of the largest gains in Newark, demonstrating that charter schools, on the whole, are providing much needed options for New Jersey students.

Undoubtedly, this report and statements from people on all sides will be much discussed. So, I want to take this opportunity to express to you directly what I support. I support great public schools, whether they are district, charter, magnet, or vocational. A child in a classroom does not care about the governance structure of a school; what matters to children and families is whether they have an effective teacher that brings out the best in them and whether they are succeeding. We should all have only one priority -- making sure every student is in a great school that meets his needs and is preparing him for success in college and career.

This report is not a criticism of the largely high-performing schools in New Jersey, nor the hard work that all public school educators in the state put in each day. Instead, it further reinforces that all students learn differently, and that we should ensure that our highest-need students have a choice that meets their needs. The majority of students will always be served in traditional public schools, and we will continue to invest heavily to make sure those schools have the resources and supports they need to be successful. But we must also make sure that every child, regardless of zip code, has the chance to be successful in a school that is a good fit for them.

We have taken significant steps to strengthen our charter authorizing over the past two years – closing five underperforming charter schools and opening only a fraction of the applications we receive. Not every charter school is successful, just as not every district school is successful. But we can and must continue to hold all schools accountable for results and the privilege of serving New Jersey’s students.

A copy of the report can be found here: http://credo.stanford.edu/

Best regards,

Chris