Camden City School District’s college and career readiness program exemplifies how schools can help students rebound from the pandemic and thrive after graduation, according to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
During a tour of Camden High School, Cardona said the school’s one-on-one postsecondary counseling program is unlike anything he’s seen at other high schools.
“We want to see our students have opportunities to catch up academically, the social emotional support that they need to not only recover but thrive after the pandemic and just have options,” he said. “That’s what I saw here today.”
Last year, the Philadelphia-based nonprofit 12+ placed 10 full-time staff who specialize in post-graduation goal setting at the district’s two high schools.
The program is part of the National Partnership for Student Success, a coalition formed by the Department of Education earlier this year to recruit and train 250,000 mentors and tutors across the country. They will fill roles critical to academic achievement and mental health, such as counselors, career coaches and community liaisons.
School districts, nonprofits, employers, colleges and other organizations will collaborate to support student recovery through volunteer, mentoring and work-study programs, according to the Department of Education.
U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, who joined Cardona on the tour, said there are many pathways to a successful career and that 12+ allows students to explore those options.
The only electrician in Congress, Norcross was chuffed to point out that one student said he wanted to study the trade.
“What we saw in this classroom talks about giving education its full due,” he said. “Whether you want to go into college, whether you want to go into military service — or even become an electrician.”
“Because if you’re not feeling well, it’s harder to learn. If you’re hungry, it’s harder to learn,” he said.
Camden City School District received $116 million from the American Rescue Plan — the second most of any district in New Jersey — to renovate facilities, help students catch up on studies, fund after school activities and support mental health staff. Camden’s allocation represents about 4% of the $2.7 billion the state received under the plan for educational purposes.
Cardona’s visit concluded a weeklong bus tour highlighting ways schools across the country are helping students recover from pandemic learning loss. In addition to Friday’s announcement, the Department of Education has also used the tour to reveal millions in funding for other programs. This includes nearly $25 million to recruit and prepare new teachers, an extra $2.5 million to support families of disabled children, $5.8 million to address the youth mental health crisis and more than $7 million to increase parental engagement in education.
“Look at this facility,” Cardona said of the new Camden High, which opened last year. “This sends a message to the students that ‘you matter.’”
“What I saw happening inside the building was just as beautiful as the exterior of the building.”
Aedy Miller is a multimedia journalist covering education, labor, climate change, mental health and the intersections thereof for the Burlington County Times, Courier-Post and The Daily Journal. Reach them at amiller4@gannett.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription.
Read More: Camden High college program praised by US Education secretary