New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 6A - EDUCATION
Chapter 31 - RENAISSANCE SCHOOLS
Subchapter 1 - PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS
Section 6A:31-1.2 - Definitions

The following words and terms shall have the following meanings when used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Annual recruitment period" means the period during which an operating renaissance school project conducts outreach efforts to the community for application and enrollment of students for the subsequent school year, and the conducting of a lottery, if needed.

"Attendance area" means the geographic area delineated for each renaissance school facility property by the renaissance school district or as identified in the application approved by the Commissioner in the case of land not owned by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority or the renaissance school district.

"Board of trustees" means the public agents authorized through a contract between the nonprofit entity and renaissance school district that has been approved by the Commissioner to govern a renaissance school project.

"Contract" means an agreement between the nonprofit entity and renaissance school district that has been submitted to, and approved by, the Commissioner to enable a renaissance school project pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36C-6.

"Development budget" means the total of all costs associated with the completion of a substantial reconstruction of a renaissance school facility.

"District board of education" means the board of education of a school district established and operating under the provisions of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and having authority to make purchases and to enter into contracts for the provision or performance of goods or services.

"District contingency plan" means an agreement between the renaissance school district and the nonprofit entity(ies) determining how students enrolled in the renaissance school project will be educated if the renaissance school project is unable to open as determined during the preparedness assessments.

"Initial recruitment period" means the first period of time that the administration or board of trustees of a soon-to-open renaissance school conducts outreach related to the application and enrollment of students, and the holding of a lottery, if necessary, for the first operating school year.

"Newly constructed school" means a renaissance school facility constructed within five years immediately prior to when the nonprofit entity takes control of the facility, with the exception of any school facility newly constructed by the New Jersey School Development Authority.

"Nonprofit entity" means a nonprofit educational organization that is either applying to establish or is currently operating a renaissance school project in a renaissance school district.

"Non-resident district board of education" means the board of education of a school district in which a non-resident student resides.

"Non-resident district board of education" means the board of education of a school district in which a non-resident student resides.

"Non-resident student" means a student who resides outside of the renaissance school district.

"Preparedness assessment" means a Department assessment that gauges readiness for renaissance school project opening.

"Record of success" means an entity's demonstrated track record of success in operating a school in a high-risk, low-income urban school district.

"Renaissance per pupil rates" means the per pupil amounts the renaissance school district must pay to the nonprofit entity operating the renaissance school project as required by N.J.S.A. 18A:36C-7.e and 7.1.

"Renaissance school district" means as defined in N.J.S.A. 18A:36C-3.

"Renaissance school facility" means a school building or group of buildings within an approved renaissance school project.

"Renaissance school project" means a newly constructed school, or group of schools in an urban campus area, that provides an educational program for students enrolled in preschool through grade 12, or in a grade range less than preschool through grade 12 that is agreed to by the school district, and is operated and managed by a nonprofit entity in a renaissance school district. A renaissance school facility shall be deemed newly constructed if it was constructed within five years immediately prior to when the nonprofit entity takes control of the facility, with the exception of any school facility newly constructed by the New Jersey School Development Authority. A school or group of schools may include existing facilities that have undergone substantial reconstruction within five years immediately prior to when the nonprofit entity takes control of the facilities. A substantial reconstruction shall meet all applicable building codes; comply with the Uniform Construction Code enhancements, where the health and safety of the building occupants are affected; comply with all "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" regulations outlined in the New Jersey Barrier Free Subcode at N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.14(b); and comply with the Uniform Construction Code and other applicable State and Federal laws for radon, lead, asbestos, and other contaminants, and be subject to the enforcement of such standards by the applicable State or Federal agency. The first facility of a renaissance school project shall be a newly constructed school facility that is designed to house, upon completion, at least 20 percent of the total number of students to be enrolled in the renaissance school project. A renaissance school project may include a dormitory and related facilities as permitted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36C-5.

"Renewal of contract" means the determination by the Commissioner at the end of a contract term to authorize the continuation of the renaissance school project contract for an additional five-year period.

"Resident student" means a student who resides within the renaissance school district.

"Substantial reconstruction" means renaissance school facility renovations that reflect a total development budget equal to at least 50 percent of the fair market value as determined pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:31-3.3. A substantial reconstruction shall meet all applicable building codes; comply with the Uniform Construction Code enhancements, where the health and safety of the building occupants are affected; comply with all Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 rules outlined in the New Jersey Barrier Free Subcode at N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.14(b); and comply with the Uniform Construction Code and other applicable State and Federal laws for radon, lead, asbestos, and other contaminants, and be subject to the enforcement of such standards by the applicable State or Federal agency.

"Urban campus area" means the area within a 1.5-mile radius of the site of the initial renaissance school facility of a renaissance school project, except that a high school building that is part of the renaissance school project may be located within a two-mile radius of the site of the initial renaissance school facility of a renaissance school project.

"Waiting list" means the document identifying the names of grade-eligible students with applications to a renaissance school project, pending acceptance for the subsequent school year, based upon the order of random selection from a lottery following a recruitment period.

"Years of experience" means the length of relevant experience in operating a school in a high-risk, low-income urban school district as demonstrated by the nonprofit entity or its founding members.