A bill working its way through the N.J. Legislature has Camden public school advocates up in arms over what they say is the privatization of their city's school district.
The bill, backed by the Christie Administration and passed 32-1 by the Democratic-controlled State Senate, loosens the restrictions on so-called "Renaissance Schools" in Camden, as well as in Newark and Trenton. Camden already has three "Renaissance Schools," charter schools which work more closely with the district on enrollment and receive more funding than traditional charters.
Earlier this month, parents and public school advocates held a protest over the bill outside the city's Board of Education headquarters. Advocates have also filed a discrimination lawsuit trying to thwart the expansion of the Renaissance schools.
Like in Newark, the Camden schools are under state control. Paymon Rouhanifard, Camden's state-appointed superintendent, is a former employee of controversial Newark superintendent Cami Anderson.
But while Newark and Camden share similarities and Camden activists are beginning to mobilize against the state's school reform agenda, NJ Spotlight education writer John Mooney told WNYC's Amy Eddings that Camden hasn't reached Newark's fever-pitch levels of protest. At least not yet.
"It's starting to stir a bit, but Newark has been under 20 years of state control," said Mooney. "I think there's a little bit more openness among some of the community groups [in Camden] and certainly some of the power structure there to make some big changes. This hasn't yet had the reaction as Newark has, but Newark was something that took 10 or 20 years to boil up. We're right at the beginning of this."