Any new petitioner who wishes to request authorization to open an independent study-based charter school will be required to meet with the district about the availability of facilities within the district, including a Resource Center location. If facilities are not able to be located within the district and a Resource Center must be secured outside of the district boundaries, the petitioner must locate and secure a location outside of the district boundaries. In the case where a Resource Center is to be secured outside of the district boundaries and within the district's county, prior to submitting a petition to NJESD, the petitioner must notify the school district where the proposed charter school Resource Center is to be located. The petitioner must also notify the San Joaquin County Office of Education.

Any new petition that exhausts the aforementioned must provide a letter from the property owner of the proposed school site that specifies at the very least the following:

• Lease agreement for the term of the proposed charter school;
• All zoning codes correspond with the City's school occupancy codes; and,
• All health and safety inspections have been signed off by appropriate city and/or county departments and personnel.

For instructions on how to submit a new petition application for an independent charter school, please download the New Petition Application Guide.

Be mindful of the Target Windows for Petition Submission.