NEWS

ASBURY PARK, March 22, 2010 -- The state Department of Education has renewed the charter for Hope Academy Charter School for another five years.

The school, now located at 601 Grand Ave., began operations five years ago. State law requires charters to be renewed every five years.

A team from the state paid a two-day visit to the school earlier in the month. According to school founder Peter Cheney, the state made no recommendations, which he said was "unusual."

"We were stellar in fiscal," Cheney told the Coaster newspaper.

The school was authorized for an enrollment of 180 students in the current year. Approximately 90 percent of Hope Academy students live in Asbury Park.