The New Jersey Education Department has given final approval for nine new charter schools to open in the fall. A decision on ten other schools including the state’s first virtual charters is being delayed for another year.

Carlos Perez is CEO of the New Jersey Charter Schools Association. He says cyber charters are a viable option but supports the one-year delay in deciding whether to give approval to the first two.

 “Every single charter school that opens up must be of high quality and able to meet the needs of students at day one. I see the idea of a planning year as ultimately a good thing, allowing these schools to be better prepared to achieve the high results that’s necessary for the parents and kids that they serve.”

Julia Rubin with the group Save Our Schools says it’s encouraging the state is delaying action on those cyber charters.

 “The history of these schools has been dismal in other states. Their performance is just terrible. Academically students who start at the same level in the traditional school and the virtual school end up four years behind.”

A coalition of education groups including the New Jersey Education Association and the Education Law Center claims the state’s charter law does not allow those virtual schools, and it has threatened to take legal action if they are approved.