August 13, 2020 

Newark Charter School 2020-2021 Reopening & Remote Learning 
Compact 
 
Newark charter schools share a common vision for serving students, families, educators, and our 
city at the highest level in the midst of a historic pandemic. The decision to reopen schools for any 
in-person learning is a difficult one, and one that may be impacted by factors outside of the control 
of any individual charter school or traditional school district. While state guidance may change 
over time in response to the evolving pandemic, it seems clear that schools will reopen for 
in-person learning at some point this school year, and they will also have to educate students 
remotely this school year. 
 
The question schools face is how to reopen safely while providing high quality instruction both in 
school buildings and through remote options. This compact seeks to go beyond individual school 
plans and assert the collective commitment of Newark charter schools to our students, families, 
staff, and the entire Newark community.  
 
Driven by our missions to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed academically and 
beyond, we will meet and exceed safety standards, provide engaging and rigorous instruction, and 
ensure that student and family needs are met. While there will be diverse approaches across 
schools that are sensitive to the needs of each school community, we share a common set of 
priorities. 
 
In our current context of unprecedented uncertainty, school systems must be prepared to respond 
rapidly to changing guidance and public health circumstances. Staying within the parameters set 
by the Governor and New Jersey Department of Education, we will ​use public health data to drive 
decision-making.​ Through these shifts, the priorities and principles in this compact will guide our 
approach to serving families, educators and staff, and our broader communities. We also 
understand that our ability to meet the following goals are also subject to numerous variables, 
such as adequate funding and staff availability.   
Under this compact we commit to the following goals in accordance with each school’s 
reopening plan: 
1. Prioritizing health and safety for students, staff, and families above all. 
● Implementing health, safety, and sanitation protocols above and beyond state 
mandated guidance including: 
○ Grouping students into cohorts to minimize exposure 
○ Arranging classrooms to promote safety (e.g. desks face the same direction, 
space desks as far apart as possible) and requiring masks throughout the 
day except for meal times 
○ Scheduled hand washing and sanitizing throughout the day 
○ Ensuring all students and staff have access to masks and other PPE 
○ Training educators and staff on all health and safety protocols 

 August 13, 2020 
Closely cooperating with local health officials to respond immediately to 
potential or known COVID-19 cases 
● Vetting reopening plans and procedures with medical professionals. 
● Responding immediately to the newest public health guidance and developments 
about COVID-19 to ensure the highest level of safety possible. 
 
2. Providing equitable access to high quality instruction to all of our students, including 
those who are learning virtually. 
● Delivering high quality instruction to all students, ensuring students receive the 
Special Education and English Language Learning services they are entitled to, 
offering individual support from educators, and creating opportunities for 
engagement with peers for all students, even those attending fully remotely. 
● Ensuring that no child is kept from fully participating in remote instruction because 
of technology issues by doing everything possible to guarantee that every student 
is provided with the device and internet access they need. 
○

 
3. Ensuring effective two-way communication on reopening plans and ongoing guidance to 
our school community. 
● Communicating reopening plans, ongoing guidance, and new information promptly, 
transparently, through multiple methods, and in multiple languages when needed. 
● Engaging all families and staff in ongoing formal and informal opportunities to 
provide feedback and ask questions, and responding to all questions and concerns 
raised as information becomes available. 
● Consistently re-evaluating all procedures and protocols based on community input 
and needs.  
 
4. Meeting student and family needs in the classroom and beyond. 
● Committing to bridging the digital divide for our students by doing everything in 
our power to ensure that all students have access to the technology needed to 
engage in remote learning by connecting families with one-to-one devices and 
internet access when needed. 
● Supporting the social-emotional needs of students in the current climate by 
implementing additional services and changes to instruction. 
● Providing access to meals and connections to other resources and services to 
ensure students’ basic needs are met and support their families. 
● Creating opportunities for students to receive extra academic support when they 
need it. 

 August 13, 2020 
Newark Charter School 2020-2021 Reopening & Remote Learning Signatories 
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
 
 

BRICK Education Network
Discovery Charter School 
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School 
KIPP New Jersey 
LEAD Charter School 
Link Community Charter School 
Newark Educators Community 
Charter School 

 

8. North Star Academy 
9. People’s Prep Charter School 
10. Philip's Academy Charter School 
11. Robert Treat Academy Charter School 
12. Roseville Community Charter School 
13. University Heights Charter School