NEWARK, NJ – October 24, 2011 – Thirteen Newark charter schools have signed a groundbreaking agreement to ensure they are upholding the highest principles of transparency and public accountability, serving an unmet need in Newark, striving for educational excellence, and fulfilling their missions to educate all students in the most equitable manner possible.

The Newark Charter School Compact was developed by the Newark Charter School Fund, a three-year- old organization committed to increasing the number of high-quality schools in Newark by improving charter schools, expanding successful schools, and developing promising new schools. Newark currently has 18 charter schools serving about 7,600 students.

People’s Preparatory Charter School, a new charter school slated to open this August in Newark, is still accepting applications for high school students.

The school will start with a class of 95 ninth graders and add a class each year, reaching a maximum of 380 students when it graduates its first class in 2015.

As one of only a few charter high schools in Newark, People's Prep will provide students with a high quality option. The mission of the school is to ensure that all students achieve academic excellence, develop strong character, and commit to community advancement.

The school's core values of intellect, empathy and action will be at the heart of students’ daily experiences in order to help them succeed at the college of their choice and in life.