CURRENT GRADE: F
There is no school choice in the state where tax dollars follow the student.
Homeschooling requirements are parent friendly and not cumbersome.
Compulsory attendance is required for ages 6-16.
Education Options
- Interdistrict Public School Choice Program
- “Students and their families select the choice district they want to apply to by visiting Find a Choice District and then they must submit the choice application found on the district’s website directly to the district. Each district has its own choice application. Where choice options are available, any student who resides in New Jersey is eligible to apply.”
- “District participation in the program is optional, but requires application to the Department of Education. Once approved, the choice district designates the available seats in specific grades and programs that are open to choice students.”
- 119 Participating districts.
- Charter Schools
- The New Jersey Department of Education is the charter school authorizer.
- Publicly funded.
- Open to students from the charter school’s district or region.
- On a space-available basis.
- 85 charter schools in 2024.
Homeschooling Laws
Here are state requirements on the topic of homeschooling:
- Home school education must be equivalent to what would be received in public schools.
- Notification to homeschool is not required but is recommended to avoid truancy issues.
- It is up to the local school district if a home schooled student can participate in public school extra-curricular activities.
Religious Exemptions:
- There are no state specific religious exemption laws.
The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Many argue that a religious conviction to provide a home-based education is constitutionally protected and a state religious exemption law is not a requirement to be able to homeschool on religious grounds.
It should be noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) established that “Under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, a state law requiring that children attend school past eighth grade violates the parents’ constitutional right to direct the religious upbringing of their children.” (The case involved a challenge of a 16-year-old student to be exempt, so the scope was limited)
