Jack Ciattarelli, a candidate for governor of New Jersey, said on X that if elected, he would support school choice and charter schools as alternatives to struggling public school districts.
“Mikie Sherrill and NJ Democrats are out of touch on affordability, crime, energy, antisemitism, and letting boys play girls sports,” said Jack M Ciattarelli. “Don’t forget about education. Democrats in other states – including veterans of the Obama Administration – are embracing the push for a national school choice program. As Governor, I would be a strong proponent of school choice and charter school expansion.”
In 2025, the national debate intensified over Republican-backed school voucher proposals embedded in the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which offers dollar-for-dollar federal tax credits for donations to private school scholarship funds. According to K-12 Dive, Republicans argue the policy empowers parents and expands opportunity, while Democrats contend it diverts funding from public schools and undermines equity in education.
A 2023 report by CREDO, cited by New Jersey Education Report, indicates that charter school students in New Jersey gained an average of 16 more days of learning in reading and six in math compared to traditional public school peers. In Newark, charter third graders were twice as likely to score proficient in reading, showing stronger outcomes in key urban areas.
According to a national analysis by FutureEd, during the 2024–25 school year, private school choice programs—including vouchers and education savings accounts—operated in 35 states and served about 2.2% of U.S. students. While enrollment in these programs has expanded, studies cited by Education Week show mixed academic outcomes and raise concerns about funding diversion from public systems.
Ciattarelli is a Republican businessman and former New Jersey Assemblyman who served from 2011 to 2018 and is currently the GOP nominee for governor. His education platform includes increased school funding efficiency, improved curriculum standards, and support for parental involvement and school choice.
