Camden Schools Partnership Program (RU IGNITE)

Mission

IGNITE’s mission is to develop 3rd-8th grade Camden scholar-leaders through STEAM, civic and community engagement, college and career exploration with year-round support, mentoring, and programming. 

Increasing Student Achievement

Working in collaboration with school leadership, staff, families, and community organizations, the goal of the partnership is to increase student achievement by providing an integrated system of partnerships that promote academic success, support positive social and emotional development, and engage families and community members in an effort to strengthen their neighborhood. 

Modeled after an approach developed by the Netter Center of Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania, the university-assisted community school initiative is focused on mobilizing the vast resources of the University in service to the students and families of the Camden community. This partnership also advances the teaching, research, and service mission of the University and the civic development of our undergraduate and graduate students.  

Structure

IGNITE offers out of school time programming for over 200 scholars in grades 3-8 at Cooper’s Poynt and Thomas H. Dudley family schools during the academic year and serves over 50 scholars during the summer in the month of July on the Rutgers Camden campus. The program is staffed by school-based certified teachers, social workers, paraprofessionals, education ambassadors (trained Rutgers students), facilitators, community partners, AmeriCorps members and other volunteers. IGNITE provides daily academic enrichment such as: ELA/Math remediation, homework help, tutoring, and 6-week project-based learning clubs. It offers all scholars opportunities in fitness and sports, STEM, visual and performance art, student council, career and college exploration, civic engagement projects and community service opportunities. 

During the summer, over 50 IGNITE scholars come to Rutgers University–Camden to experience life on a college campus and participate in fun, project-based learning clubs facilitated by Rutgers faculty, staff, and students.  

Funded by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program through the New Jersey Department of Education, IGNITE inspires scholars to begin their journey towards higher education. IGNITE is the beginning of the cradle to college pipeline. 

Facts

• 2,000 Camden Scholars provided with out -of-school-time educational experiences over the past 12 years 
• 75% of participating students reported that Ignite helped them improve their reading and writing skills 
• 2021-22 NJSLA Math Scores Outperformed their 2019-2020 Math Scores 
• 100% of students that attend IGNITE’s summer camp expressed interest in attending college 
• "Family to me does not have to be [related by] blood. Right now, my family is right here [at IGNITE]."  - K. R., 5th Grade Student on Woke Wednesdays and "How I Can Make a Difference in my Family" 

Funding

Rutgers–Camden IGNITE is made possible through a five-year 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program grant from the New Jersey Department of Education and was awarded for the first time in fall of 2012. In fall 2024, IGNITE will be going into its 3rd year of its 3rd cycle. 

For more information on how to contribute to programming, please reach out to Senior Program Administrator (Tinishia Bass) tbass@camden.rutgers.edu 

More Information

For more information about the RU IGNITE program, please contact: 

• Steve Lunger, Program Coordinator  
• Tinishia A. Bass, Senior Program Administrator & Project Director