Hoboken Parents Look To Start New Charter School

A group of Hoboken parents is trying to start a new charter school in Hoboken.

Hoboken currently has three charter schools—, and dual language school —and the parents want to add one more: DaVinci, a school that is supposed to be focused on science and math. 

The parents are asking Hobokenites—especially parents with young or school aged children—to fill out a survey to gauge interest in the idea. 

Charter schools receive funding from the Hoboken Board of Education and are public, but can govern their schools independently. The director of a charter school effectively functions as its superintendent, and the charter schools in town do not fall under the responsibility of the Hoboken Board of Education. 

According to an email from Laura Siegel, one of the parents involved, the proposed school is supposed to open in 2013. The first year the school will have Kindergarten through Second Grade and will expand to Fifth Grade. 

The charter application is due on April 2, Siegel said. If approved, the charter will be granted by the state in September.