Camden schools will share $1.1 million in grants to help English learners and struggling students

The Camden Education Fund has awarded $1.1 million in grants to five city high schools to boost achievement for students struggling to learn English or overcome disabilities.

Every high school in Camden had a chance to apply for the Supporting All Learners grant program — the largest awards made in the foundation’s history, said CEO Giana Campbell. About 15% of Camden’s students have disabilities and 15% are multilingual learners, she said.

The schools receiving the funding include two traditional city high schools, Camden High and Eastside High; two Renaissance schools, Camden Prep High and Mastery High School of Camden; and Camden Academy Charter.

Camden is the only school system in New Jersey that has three types of public schools that educate about 16,000 students. Renaissance schools are public schools, like charters, but guarantee a seat to every student in the school’s neighborhood.

The schools typically compete for students and funding, but officials said they are committed to helping their most marginalized students. The grant program will initially support 400 students.

“This is a unique movement,” said Joseph Conway, CEO of the Camden Charter School Network.

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The schools were chosen to receive funding to develop support plans for English language learner students, students with disabilities, and students who are lagging academically, Campbell said. The grants ranged from $190,000 to $250,000 for each school.

“If we are going to create a brighter future and achieve true educational equity for Camden, we must make sure ALL of our students have access to great teachers, curriculum, and resources,” Campbell said in a statement. “We are providing this grant to local schools to do just that.”

Some of the schools have already used their grants to launch programs that officials hope will be game-changers. Schools may also use the funds for professional development for teachers.

Diagnosed with ADHD at age 5, Ocier Bernard was failing every class until he was placed in a reading intervention program started this past fall at Camden Prep High. It was funded by a $208,000 grant from the foundation.

“I felt ashamed. I was so frustrated,” said Bernard, 17, a junior.

Bernard said his reading skills and spelling ability drastically improved through the small group instruction with other students with ADHD. His confidence improved, and he stopped stuttering.

English is now his favorite class, and Bernard said he has become a B student. The next goal for Bernard: all As, said the aspiring radiology technician.

“I’m almost there. I already have a couple of As,” Bernard said, drawing a standing ovation in the gym at Camden Academy Charter High School, where the grants were announced Thursday.

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Bernard is among 54 English language learner and special education students enrolled in the reading intervention class at Camden Prep, said Maria Alcón-Heraux, a school spokeswoman. The goal is to increase their reading proficiency to graduate, she said.

Camden Prep, a former failing elementary district school, was turned over to Uncommon Schools and converted into a Renaissance school in 2015. It began with lower grades and eventually added a high school, graduating its first class in June.

With a $250,000 grant, Eastside High has set up cohorts of ninth grade multilingual learners who will stay connected through their senior year to create a sense of belonging for the school’s diverse population. Mastery High also received $250,000 and plans to assist students with disabilities between ages 18 and 21 with employment and life skills.

Camden High, which received $244,000, plans to offer a summer reading and math training to increase students’ comprehension and fluency skills. Camden Superintendent Katrina McCombs said the grant program “will go a long way in helping them overcome challenges and thrive.”

At Camden Academy Charter, which received $190,000, history teacher Neil McDougald has received professional development and coaching to provide instruction to multilingual learners, said Principal Dara Ash. He will help train other teachers, she said.

During a U.S. History I lesson to 10th graders on Thursday, McDougald communicated in English for a lively discussion about the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Students were given scenarios with instructions printed in English and Spanish and directed to come up with solutions.

Ash said the school has about 69 multilingual learners, but is not a bilingual school, where students would be taught in two languages, typically English and their native language. It has about 750 students in grades 9-12.

After a two-year pilot, the grant program may be expanded to include K-8 schools in Camden, Campbell said.

“There’s a need at all grade levels,” she said.