Sign On The Petition: Justice for Camden, NJ Traditional Public Schools
The Issue
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’ and DEMAND to RETURN CAMDEN TO FULL LOCAL CONTROL:
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 and demand Camden City School District be Returned to Local Control 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 and Neglect
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
DO NOW:
(1) Full Restoration of Local Control of the Camden City School District.
This would include the following demands/tenants to take place or be eliminated with the proper local leadership in place:
-A Full Moratorium on the Closure or Consolidation of Camden Traditional Public Schools.
-An Independent Investigation/Forensic Audit into district finances, hiring practices, and school closures,
-Repeal of the Urban Hope Act, which has accelerated inequity, privatization, and the destabilization of Camden traditional public schools. That would include elimination of Camden One Enrollment and Renaissance Schools.
-An Independent Investigation/Forensic Audit into district finances, hiring practices, school closures
-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.
LONG TERM DEMAND:
(2)Transition Camden City School District to a Sustainable Community School District.
Our Call to Action
At this moment, it is imperative our state leaders are present to respond to our demands, listen to the community’s voices, and answer our questions in an open public forum.
Therefore, We, the Camden Community, invite Governor Mikie Sherrill, Commissioner of Education Dr. Lily Laux, and the State Board of Education Members to participate in a community town hall where parents, students, educators, and stakeholders can speak directly with state leadership about the harm, racial discrimination, and impact that state control has done during this critical moment for our school district.
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 YOUR LOCAL AND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS
- CCSD Board Meetings EVERY 4th Tuesday of the Month at 5:30 pm Find out more here https://camdencityschools.org/
- May 6, 2026 10am Rally and Testify about The destruction of CCSD in Trenton NJ:
- Sign up to Speak Here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=EnNPSwndWUm2ZtW6bcj0tPMjaCHEGg1DryfSuTboWIhUQUVQQkFRQk9GSjZKVFJMOUxaRTJCRkxPRy4u&route=shorturl
248
The Issue
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’ and DEMAND to RETURN CAMDEN TO FULL LOCAL CONTROL:
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 and demand Camden City School District be Returned to Local Control 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 and Neglect
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
DO NOW:
(1) Full Restoration of Local Control of the Camden City School District.
This would include the following demands/tenants to take place or be eliminated with the proper local leadership in place:
-A Full Moratorium on the Closure or Consolidation of Camden Traditional Public Schools.
-An Independent Investigation/Forensic Audit into district finances, hiring practices, and school closures,
-Repeal of the Urban Hope Act, which has accelerated inequity, privatization, and the destabilization of Camden traditional public schools. That would include elimination of Camden One Enrollment and Renaissance Schools.
-An Independent Investigation/Forensic Audit into district finances, hiring practices, school closures
-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.
LONG TERM DEMAND:
(2)Transition Camden City School District to a Sustainable Community School District.
Our Call to Action
At this moment, it is imperative our state leaders are present to respond to our demands, listen to the community’s voices, and answer our questions in an open public forum.
Therefore, We, the Camden Community, invite Governor Mikie Sherrill, Commissioner of Education Dr. Lily Laux, and the State Board of Education Members to participate in a community town hall where parents, students, educators, and stakeholders can speak directly with state leadership about the harm, racial discrimination, and impact that state control has done during this critical moment for our school district.
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 YOUR LOCAL AND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS
- CCSD Board Meetings EVERY 4th Tuesday of the Month at 5:30 pm Find out more here https://camdencityschools.org/
- May 6, 2026 10am Rally and Testify about The destruction of CCSD in Trenton NJ:
- Sign up to Speak Here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=EnNPSwndWUm2ZtW6bcj0tPMjaCHEGg1DryfSuTboWIhUQUVQQkFRQk9GSjZKVFJMOUxaRTJCRkxPRy4u&route=shorturl
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Petition created on February 20, 2026