Calling for Accountability in the Camden City School District and the State of New Jersey!

We, the parents, students, educators, residents, and community stakeholders of Camden, New Jersey, issue this petition as a unified call for justice, transparency, and responsible governance in our public education system. For over a decade, our school district has suffered from harmful state control, poor administrative practices, and decisions that have undermined the well-being of Camden’s children.

We stand together to demand an immediate end to the policies, behaviors, and actions that continue to harm our students and destabilize our public schools.

OUR DECLARATION OF NO CONFIDENCE

We issue a Vote of No Confidence in the current leadership of the Camden City School District Central Administration and the State of New Jersey Department of Education for the following reasons:

1. Racial Discrimination

We reject policies and decisions that disproportionately impact Black and Brown students, families, and staff, and that reinforce systemic inequities within Camden’s education system.

2. Political Corruption

We oppose the use of political influence, favoritism, and back-room decision-making that prioritizes external interests over the needs of Camden families.

3. State Sabotage

We condemn the ongoing state intervention that has stripped the community of democratic control, weakened local accountability, and allowed harmful practices to go unchallenged.

4. Mismanagement of Public Funds

We call out irresponsible and unauthorized financial decisions that fail to prioritize classroom resources, student support, and the functioning of community schools.

5. Student Neglect

We refuse to accept policies that ignore student mental health needs, special education services, school building conditions, safety concerns, and access to a high-quality education.

6. Incompetence in Leadership

We reject leadership that consistently fails to communicate clearly, implement effective strategies, or collaborate with stakeholders in good faith.

7. Untrustworthy Administrative Practices

We reject a culture of secrecy, retaliation, misinformation, and exclusion of community voices from decisions that shape the future of our children.

 

OUR DEMANDS

• A Full Moratorium on the Closure or Consolidation of Camden Traditional Public Schools.
  No school should close until local control is fully restored and a community-led assessment is conducted.

 

• Full Restoration of Local Control of the Camden City School District.

 

• Repeal of the Urban Hope Act, which has accelerated inequity, privatization, and the destabilization of Camden traditional public schools.

 

• An Independent Investigation/Forensic Audit into district finances, hiring practices, school closures, and Camden Enrollment / Camden One Enrollment.

 

• Creation of a Community Accountability Board with real decision-making power for parents, students, educators, and residents.

 

• Enforcement of Racial Equity Protections in staffing, budgeting, and resource distribution.

 

• Public Transparency of All District Contracts, Financial Decisions, and State Directives.

 

OUR DECLARATION TO OUR STUDENTS
 Camden’s students deserve safe, stable, well-resourced public schools—not politics, mismanagement, or privatization.

We stand united to protect our schools, defend our families, and reclaim our future.

We demand accountability. We demand justice. We demand community control now.

 

CALL TO ACTION!!!

SIGN THE PETITION TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR CAMDEN’S TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Add your name to support accountability, transparency, and protection for our community schools. Your voice strengthens our collective demand for justice.

SIGN THE LETTER TO NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR MIKIE SHERRILL CALLING FOR A COMMUNITY TOWN HALL

Join us in urging the Governor to hold an urgent public town hall on the state of emergency within the Camden City School District (CCSD). Our community deserves answers—we are the Power.

BOOST OUR ENROLLMENT

Help strengthen our Traditional Public Schools by enrolling your children directly at your traditional school. Our schools thrive when our students stay in our community.

BAN THE USE OF ONE CAMDEN ENROLLMENT

The One Camden enrollment system has diverted our students and the resources that belong in our classrooms. Join us in demanding an end to this harmful practice that undermines our public schools.

ATTEND OUR EDUCATION JUSTICE MEETING

Want to understand how we got here—and what we can do together?

Thursday, March 12|6:00 PM|In-Person Community Meeting

YOUR STUDENTS! YOUR VOICE! YOUR SCHOOLS!

Show up. Speak out. Help reclaim a just and community-centered education system for Camden.

CAMDEN COMMUNITY PRESS CONFERENCE:

 Join us on as we Nationalize our Local Demands Date: TBA