The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Courier-Post, citing unidentified sources, said the Republican governor will inform city officials that the state will assume control of both the educational and financial management of the schools. Christie's schedule shows an 11 a.m. news conference at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden.
The Inquirer reported Sunday that Christie has support from a few school board members and key Democratic leaders in South Jersey. It said some of them are expected to join Christie when he makes his announcement.
In a statement, Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said "We recognize this is a dramatic change, but its time has come."
Christie is expected to appoint a new superintendent and leadership team. The school board is to be shifted to an advisory role.
Camden would become the fourth urban district under state control, after Paterson, Newark, and Jersey City. It would be the first state takeover initiated by Christie.
Three of Camden's schools are the lowest-performing in the state, and 90 percent are in the bottom 5 percent. Less than 20 percent of fourth graders are proficient in language arts literacy, and just 28 percent of 11th graders are proficient in math.
