CER News Alert

(Washington, DC 5/11/2000) Today there was both good news and bad news for charter schools from two different states. First the good news in New Jersey, the Council on Local Mandates (CLM) upheld the legality of regional charter schools in New Jersey setting back the attempt by some school boards to get rid of charter schools entirely. A ruling on the constitutionality of the law is still pending before the Supreme Court in New Jersey.

        Unfortunately, in South Carolina the bad news is the state Supreme Court ruled that the state's law is unconstitutional because of a provision in the law that requires charter schools to mirror the district's racial balance. Rather than just finding that provision unacceptable the court threw out the whole law. This means the state will likely have to pass new legislation authorizing charter schools. (For more information see CER Newswire, May 16, 2000.)

        This is the first time a state supreme court has taken issue with a charter school law but not on the basis of the educational value of charters only on the more tenuous issue of race. South Carolina's legislature will have to consider this issue during its current session.

        More details will be forthcoming from the Center. Please feel free to call us or check our area About Charter Schools.

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The Center for Education Reform [CER] is a national, independent, non-profit advocacy organization providing support and guidance to individuals, community and civic groups, policymakers and others who are working to bring fundamental reforms to their schools. For additional information on education reform please call CER at (202) 822-9000.

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