East Brunswick Public School DistrictHighland Park Public School DistrictEdison Public School District

Commissioner Christopher Cerf

New Jersey Department of Education

Judge Robert L. Carter Building

100 Riverview Plaza

PO Box 500Trenton, NJ 08625-0500

North Brunswick Public School DistrictNew Brunswick Public School DistrictSouth River Public School District

February 2L,20L4

We, the below signed Superintendents, write to request that you deny the

expansion request submitted to your office on October L5,20\3 as part of the

Hatikvah lnternational Academy Charter School Application for Charter School

Renewal.

Hatikvah has proposed not only the creation of a grade 6-8 Middle School, but

also an increase from the current two to a proposed three classes of 25 students

per grade in grades K-5. lf approved, the Middle School would add an additional

1-50 students, and the additional class in grades K-5 would add yet another l-50

students. This would double Hatikvah's maximum 20L3-t4 enrollment of 273

students, to a maximum 20L8-19 ehrollment of 600 students. An expansion

request in their 2018 Renewal Application for an additional 75 seats in grades 6-8

is also likely, which would bring Hatikvah's ultimate enrollment projection to 675

students.

Since opening in 20L0, Hatikvah has failed to filltheir seats with students from

East Brunswick, the only district they are approved to serve. As demonstrated in

the Octobe r 15,20L3 Enrollment Count, they currently serve 263 students from

2l districts in 6 counties. ln essence, due to a lack of sufficient interest in East

Brunswick to fill enrollment, Hotikvoh hos become a de-focto stqtewide charterschool.

It should be noted that, as of the October t5,2Ot3 Enrollment Count, Hatikvah

was under enrolled, and had filled only 253 out of the 273 seats their charter

allows. How can an expansion be justified when Hatikvah is unable to fill seats in

all grades, even with the inclusion of students from 21 districts?

ln fact, Hatikvah's enrollment shows that a mere 57%o of Hatikvah's students

reside in East Brunswick. This puts 43% ol the lunding burden on the other 20districts qcross the stote, that according to current stdtute and regulation,received no formal notice of Hatikvah's expansion request, and have no legalstanding in the deliberotions or finol decision that could adversely effect theirbudgets.

Hatikvah's under enrollment, despite recruitment efforts in 21- districts in 6counties, seems to indicate that the charter has failed to tap into an unmet need,

not only in East Brunswick, but the state of New Jersey.

ln many of our districts the majority of funding, in some cases close to 90%,

comes from local tax dollars. The diversion of these funds, by state mandate, withno input from the local taxpayers, remains an issue of contention. This diversion

of funds, coupled with2% budget caps and continued state underfunding, is

particula rly challenging.

Also a challenge is the fact that the State Charter School Aid Projected Enrollment

Count, used for budget purposes, often varies significantly from the actual

October 15 Enrollment Count, forcing districts to either set aside too much

money for charter tuition payments, or not enough, but in either case restricting

much needed funds from tight budgets.

Finally, we wish to call your attention to the fact that Hatikvah's studentdemographics are unlike any of our districts. According to the most recent

available state data, Hatikvah is serving significantly fewer minorities, fewerchildren in poverty, fewer Limited English Proficient children and fewer Special

Education children. ln fact, Hatikvah serves no LEP students and only 1% of theirstudents are reported as Special Education.

Hatikvah's 2012-2013 Annual Report addresses the need for more diversity in

their charter by stating that their "plan is to increase our recruitment efforts inNew Brunswick in order to increase student diversity and the free/reduced lunch

population." ln addition, the Hatikvah 2}t1--LZ annual report states that they do

not have a lunch program, but that free/reduced lunch students are "provided

with a complimentary nutritious entr6e by our PTO, 3 days a week."We submit for your consideration that Hatikvah has demonstrated an inability toenroll a diverse student population from the diverse districts they already serve,

and very well may not be meeting many of the significant needs of some of the

students they have enrolled.

Charter regulations clearly state that annually "the Commissioner shall assess thestudent composition of a charter school and the segregative effect that the loss

of the students may have on its district of residence" and that the "annual

assessments of student composition of the charter school" will be factored intothe renewal of a charter. We respectfully submit that the demographic disparitiesbetween our districts and Hatikvah be given significant consideration in yourdecision.

We are in absolute agreement that the approval of the Hatikvah expansion wouldbe contrary to N.J.S.A. 18A:36A-16(eX3), as it would have an overall negativeimpact on the students, staff, parents, educational programs and finances of ourdistricts.

Dr. Patrick Piegari

East Brunswick Superintendent

Mr. Timothy Capone

Highland Park Superintendent

Mr. Richard Kaplan

New Brunswick Superintendent

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian Zychowski

North Brunswick Superintendent

Dr. Richard O'MalleyEdison Superintendent

Mr. Michael P

South River Superintendent