JustASC

Hatikvah International Academy Charter School, the proposed Hebrew-language charter school for East Brunswick, is sending this email to “East Brunswick Residents”:  

We have received a tremendous amount of interest in Hatikvah International Academy Charter School. To ensure that the East Brunswick community is accurately informed about Hatikvah, below are answers to the most common questions we have received:

1. What grades will Hatikvah serve? We will open with space for 108 students in grades K-2. Each year we will add another grade with 44 students until we are a K-8 school with spots for 372 students.

 2. What does the study of Hebrew culture include? Hebrew culture includes Jewish culture, history, art, music, Israeli culture as well as the impact that other cultures and languages had on the Hebrew language.

3. How will the school be funded? Charter Schools receive ninety percent of the funding that a public school receives from the state. The remaining funding is provided by grants and financial contributions from the school’s founders. We are proud that one of the bases of our approval by the state was on the solid fiscal plan and financial statements submitted. As required by the State of New Jersey, Hatikvah will be tuition free.

4. How do I register my child? As a partial immersion foreign language school incorporating the international baccalaureate teaching method, we hope to enroll students from a wide range of backgrounds in Hatikvah and have already received inquiries from families of diverse backgrounds. If you would like to register your child, you can go to Hatikvah’s website, www.hatikvahcharterschool.com, and provide us with your name, address and phone number as well as your child’s name, and child’s date of birth. An on-line Lottery Application form will be available shortly. Please complete the form and e-mail back to Hatikvahchrterschool@gmail.com or fax to 732-698-0675.

 5. What impact will Hatikvah have on local property taxes? There are no studies which indicate that taxes go up in towns which have charter schools. According to the Wall Street Journal (September 24, 2009)”…charters are also a bargain for taxpayers. Nationwide on average, per-pupil spending is 61% that of surrounding public schools.” It costs the state 10% less to educate a child in a charter school than in a public school. If a child leaves public school to go to a charter school, the school board will continue to receive 10% of funding for that child even though they are no longer responsible for educating that child. And since the public school does not receive any funding for children attending private school, if a child leaves private school to go to a charter school, the school board would not lose any funding. In fact, it will receive a nominal amount of money from the state.

 6. Do I have to live in East Brunswick to attend Hatikvah? Not necessarily. The school anticipates that most students will be East Brunswick residents. If the school receives more applications than seats available, it must use a random lottery to accept students. Two separate lotteries will be held – one for children who live in East Brunswick and one for students who live outside of East Brunswick. First preference will be given to students who live in East Brunswick or have siblings who already attend the school. If Hatikvah receives fewer applications from East Brunswick residents than available seats, it may accept student applicants from outside East Brunswick.

7. When there are such strong public schools in East Brunswick, why do we need a charter school that offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program? Drawing on research and practices from a variety of national systems, the program provides students with challenging educational frameworks for each age and ability level. Students learn how to critically evaluate information, while also learning facts and complex concepts. Students are prepared for higher education by encouraging inquiry-based lessons and activities, while developing a sense of self, culture, identity, and communication. The culmination is an education that is sought-after by the world’s leading universities.

8. Can you really teach Hebrew without teaching religion? Public schools in the United States have been doing this for many years. Hebrew is a distinct language, and, like any other foreign language, can be acquired outside of the realm of religion. Public high schools around the country, and public universities, such as Rutgers, teach Hebrew language and Judaic studies separate and apart from the study of religion.

9. Will the school observe Jewish holidays? Hatikvah will follow the East Brunswick public school calendar. Therefore, the school will be closed during the Jewish high holidays and also non-Jewish holidays which are observed by East Brunswick public schools. If parents ask to keep their children home in observance of other holidays, we will accommodate their requests just as other East Brunswick schools would do.

 10. Will you offer a before/after school program? Based on parental need, there will be a before/after school program available, run by a separate entity.