Governor Mikie Sherrill • Lt. Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell

Application Rounds

March and October

The New Jersey Department of Education administers two application rounds for prospective charter schools — the March Application Round and the October Application Round.

In the March round, applications are due on March 31, and decisions are made on September 30 for charter schools that may open the following fall.

In the expedited October round, applications are due on October 15, and decisions are made by February 15 for charter schools that may open in the fall of the same year. The October round is only for proven operators. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:11-2.1(g): "For phase one of the October 15 expedited application, the Department will review applications received from founders with demonstrable experience operating an education institution."

March 2026 Charter School Application Timeline

Date Event
February 10, 2026, 1:00 p.m. Technical Assistance Training Broadcast. To join, go to Microsoft TEAMS (link may be easiest to access using Google Chrome).
March 31, 2026, 4:15 p.m.
  • Deadline to submit the Phase One Application (hard copy and electronic copy) to the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Charter and Renaissance Schools.
  • Deadline to submit the Phase One Application (hard copy only) to the appropriate New Jersey Department of Education County Offices, and district(s) of residence.
Please contact allie.cobb@doe.nj.gov with any questions or concerns regarding application submission.
May 19, 2026 Tentative date for notification of qualified applicant status and eligibility to submit the Phase Two Application.
June 18, 2026, 4:15 p.m.
  • Deadline to submit the Phase Two Application (hard copy and electronic copy) to the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Charter and Renaissance Schools.
  • Deadline to submit the Phase Two Application (hard copy only) to the appropriate New Jersey Department of Education County Offices, and district(s) of residence.
August 6, 2026 – August 7, 2026 Tentative, applicant in-depth interview dates
September 30, 2026 Charter application initial decision
June 30, 2027 School preparedness process deadline
July 15, 2027 Final approval, granting of Charter, for approved applicants who have successfully completed the School Preparedness Process. Approved applicants who did not successfully complete the Preparedness Process will be notified of their status by the NJDOE.

October 2025 Charter School Application Cycle

Take notice that pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36A-4(c), the New Jersey Department of Education received the Hillside Community Charter School Application and the College Achieve Jersey City Charter School Application on or before October 15, 2025. These two applications are still under review. 

Public Comment regarding the Hillside Community Charter School Application must be submitted by email to Oct25HillsideCharterApp@doe.nj.gov.

Public Comment regarding the College Achieve Jersey City Charter School Application must be submitted by email to Oct25CollegeAchieveCharterAp@doe.nj.gov. 

These email accounts will remain on this page until the final application decision is made.