Why Do We Need to Raise Money for LINK Community Charter School?

20190219_132014 (1)

Private investment helps Link Community Charter School deliver its mission.

To fuel the robust mission of Link Community Charter! Link is not your average public school! With its unique mission, the school seeks to provide the very best for all its students, not only ensuring a challenging and engaging core curriculum, but also an environment, experiences and exposures that go beyond what traditional public schools offer. To maintain an excellent education that prepares students for success in life, Link aims to:

  • Conduct its Summer Academy, which acclimates new students to the school‘s culture and traditions, as well as provides staff time for assessment of students’ needs before the full academic year starts
  • Provide an afterschool athletics program that exposes students to new sports
  • Expose students to a wide variety of interesting elective classes that inspire and build on their knowledge and skills
  • Fuel creativity and self-expression through an arts program, including music and performing arts
  • Deliver outdoor adventure education that will introduce students to nature as well as to inspire confidence, positive risk-taking, team-work, and leadership
  • Support the technology needs of the school and the students

To close the gap between the public funding allocated to Link Community Charter School, a public school, and the funding received by public district schools! Charter schools, such as Link, receive less public funding than their district school counterparts. (Click for information from the NJ Public Charter Schools Association.)

As an independent public charter school, Link:

  • Has fewer dollars available, but must carry out the same state and local responsibilities for testing, special education, nursing services, professional development, facilities, safety, academic standards, and testing as the district schools
  • Has even fewer dollars available for administrative costs due to the state required 60/40 split for instruction and school administration, and cannot spread administrative costs across multiple schools like school districts and charter school networks

To achieve outstanding school and student outcomes! Link has demonstrated tremendous success since its conversion to a pubic charter school, including:

  • 7th and 8th grade state ELA scores that outpace statewide averages
  • Tier 1 status for overall school performance, as designated by the NJ Department of Education
  • Ranking in the top 20% of NJ public schools, according to the NJ Department of Education
  • Consistently earning significant aid and academic scholarships for high school ($7.5 million in 2021)