THE UNITY CHARTER SCHOOL (UCS) WAS CHARTERED BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN JANUARY 1997 AS THE ONLY CHARTER SCHOOL THAT HAD INCLUDED A PLANNING YEAR PRIOR TO ITS OPENING. THE CHARTER SCHOOL OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE FIRST 60 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-7 IN SEPTEMBER, 1998, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS CHARTER. UCS MAINTAINED THAT ENROLLMENT LEVEL THROUGH THE FIRST SCHOOL YEAR. UCS NOW OPERATES A K-8 PROGRAM, IN WHICH STUDENTS THRIVE IN A MULTI-AGE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. WHILE ENCOURAGING EACH CHILD TO GROW ACADEMICALLY, UCS INTEGRATES PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CLASSROOM SUPPORT AS WELL AS THE GOVERNANCE OF THE SCHOOL.