Dear Editor:
The face of public education is changing in New Jersey. For generations, children started their education in kindergarten. Today, however, children are beginning their formal education as early as age two as more and more parents pay to send their young children to preschool. There are many children, particularly our poorest children in the inner cities, who up until recently didn’t have the same opportunity to receive a solid foundation for their education.
As part of its Abbott v. Burke initiative, the Department of Education is now providing year-round preschool to three-and four-year old children in the poorest districts in our state, the so-called Abbott districts. These districts are offering innovative, top-quality preschool services with small class sizes and certified teachers.
New Jersey is leading the way in preschool education. No other state is offering such an extensive early childhood education on a full time basis to so many children.
When you blaze new trails, however, you often run into some unexpected hurdles. Our critics have been quick to point out every little problem or delay. Overall, however, the launching of the preschool initiative has been a success in large measure because of the cooperation of the local school districts. In 28 of the 30 Abbott districts, implementation has moved forward smoothly.
Unfortunately, two districts, Passaic and Elizabeth, two plaintiffs in the ongoing Abbott v. Burke litigation, are lagging behind in implementing their preschool programs. As a result, I had to issue waivers from the full-day, full-year requirement for the current school year.
Meeting the preschool needs of children in the Abbott school districts has been a huge undertaking. Working closely with the local districts, we were able to find the necessary classrooms, recruit qualified teaches and establish an early childhood curriculum framework.
We have accomplished an enormous amount in a very short period of time. In less than two years, we have established 1,000 preschool classrooms, the equivalent of 40 school buildings. Of these new classrooms, 700 are located in school district facilities or in facilities provided by community-based preschools. The remaining rooms are being provided on a short-term basis by temporary modular units. Plans have already been approved to construct permanent facilities to replace the temporary classrooms. Financing for the projects will come from the state’s $8.6 billion school construction program.
Nearly 37,000 three- and four-year old children are expected to attend preschool in the 30 Abbott districts this year, an increase of approximately 13,000 children from last year. To date, 28,511 children have enrolled. We anticipate that number will grow as word spreads about the high-quality services that districts are providing.
An early childhood education can lay the foundation for a child’s success in school. Every child living in an Abbott district deserves that opportunity. The Department of Education will continue to advocate the importance to parents of having every three-and four-year old child in every Abbott district take advantage of public preschool.
Vito A. Gagliardi, Sr.
New Jersey Commissioner of Education