Charter School Head Says Newark Schools Are Better Since Facebook Gift

Newark students have better options and are graduating at higher rates five years after $200 million in private philanthropy was invested in the public school system, a leader of a chain of charter schools says. 

"Your odds have doubled of being in a good school if you're an African American kid in Newark," said Ryan Hill, director of Kipp New Jersey, which operates five charter schools in the city. 

Hill spoke with Jami Floyd, WNYC's host of All Things Considered, during a visit to Team Academy, one of the new schools funded through the school reform plan developed by former Mayor Cory Booker and Gov. Chris Christie. The plan was funded by a $100 million grant from Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, and matched by other donors. 

The private money helped start new charter schools and provided merit pay for teachers. 

"Charter growth is largely responsible for that doubling in the outlook for African-American students in Newark, so I would say that has been a big contribution," Hill said.