In 1993, Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, spearheaded the Rutgers/LEAP Initiative to create a comprehensive charter school that enhances opportunities for the children and families of Camden through integrated education, health and human service programs, and community development.

Through their leadership, the Rutgers/LEAP Initiative is a multimillion dollar comprehensive effort of Rutgers to create brighter futures for Camden’s children and families.

The need for this initiative is urgent and clear. The challenges facing urban schools and their students are well documented and widely known. Urban public schools are among the most troubled and ineffective educational institutions in the United States. Fewer than half of all urban African-American and Latino children earn high school diplomas, and few graduate prepared for work or higher education.

The Rutgers/LEAP Initiative responds to this need by providing a holistic system, which is widely regarded as a national urban
school reform model, for innovative partnership among a major research university, a public charter school, parents, and business and community partners. Its comprehensive approach supports students from early childhood through college.

Dr Gloria Bonilla-Santiago was instru­mental in New Jersey passing legislation enabling the creation of charter schools. She is chairperson of the Board at LEAP.