Signed by Governor Chris Christie

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes nonprofit organizations to construct and manage public schools.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a pilot program of a limited number of “failing” school districts to work with non-profit organizations to manage “renaissance school projects” (Sec. 2).

• Defines a “failing” school district as a district that meets either of the following 2009-2010 language arts and mathematics state assessment criteria (Sec. 2):
• For cities of the first class, at least 40 percent of the students scored in the “partially proficient” range; or
• For cities of the second class, at least 45 percent of the students scored in the “partially proficient” range.

• Defines a “renaissance school project” as the following (Secs. 3 & 7):
• The project is in a public school or system of schools that provides an educational program for students enrolled in grades K-12;
• The project is agreed to by the school district; and
• The project is constructed, operated and managed by a nonprofit organization independent of the local board of education.

• Requires the nonprofit organization to have experience operating a school in a high-risk, low-income urban district (Sec. 4).

• Limits the number of renaissance school projects to 4 per school district (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes non-profit entities to use state funds to pay for any facility constructed or acquired for renaissance school projects (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes for-profit entities to construct renaissance schools and own land on which renaissance schools are located (Sec. 7).

• Requires renaissance school projects meet the same testing and academic performance standards established for public school students (Sec. 8).

• Prohibits the employees of a renaissance school project from being considered to be members of the bargaining unit of any renaissance school district (Sec. 9).

• Requires educators in a renaissance school project to be paid at least the minimum teacher salary and to have the same tenure rights as employees of a board of education of a school district (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes nonprofit organizations to construct and manage public schools.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a pilot program of a limited number of “failing” school districts to work with non-profit organizations to manage “renaissance school projects” (Sec. 2).

• Defines a “failing” school district as a district that meets either of the following 2009-2010 language arts and mathematics state assessment criteria (Sec. 2):
• For cities of the first class, at least 40 percent of the students scored in the “partially proficient” range; or
• For cities of the second class, at least 45 percent of the students scored in the “partially proficient” range.

• Defines a “renaissance school project” as the following (Secs. 3 & 7):
• The project is in a public school or system of schools that provides an educational program for students enrolled in grades K-12;
• The project is agreed to by the school district; and
• The project is constructed, operated and managed by a nonprofit organization independent of the local board of education.

• Requires the nonprofit organization to have experience operating a school in a high-risk, low-income urban district (Sec. 4).

• Limits the number of renaissance school projects to 4 per school district (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes non-profit entities to use state funds to pay for any facility constructed or acquired for renaissance school projects (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes for-profit entities to construct renaissance schools and own land on which renaissance schools are located (Sec. 7).

• Requires renaissance school projects meet the same testing and academic performance standards established for public school students (Sec. 8).

• Prohibits the employees of a renaissance school project from being considered to be members of the bargaining unit of any renaissance school district (Sec. 9).

• Requires educators in a renaissance school project to be paid at least the minimum teacher salary and to have the same tenure rights as employees of a board of education of a school district (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text