PRE-K EXPANSION GROUP HOSTS REPRESENTATIVES FROM MORE THAN 90 COMMUNITIES IN FORUM ON PREPARING KIDS FOR KINDERGARTEN

PRE-K EXPANSION GROUP HOSTS REPRESENTATIVES FROM MORE THAN 90 COMMUNITIES IN FORUM ON PREPARING KIDS FOR KINDERGARTEN

North Jersey Forum Was Second in Regional Forum Series for Pre-K Our Way; Final Forum to Take Place in South Jersey

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, N.J. - In the second of a series of three regional forums to determine how our children can best be prepared for school and ready for future success, Pre-K Our Way joined with representatives from more than 90 different communities including parents, grandparents, teachers, local businesses and community leaders, neighbors, interested citizens, school superintendents and board members, early childhood education advocates, and elected officials on Wednesday and Thursday, April 29 & 30 at the Hilton Hasbrouck Heights/Meadowlands.

According to Governor Thomas Kean, who serves on the Pre-K Our Way Leadership Group, “One of our highest priorities should be the availability of quality pre-k programs for all of our children. These programs offer our best hope for future success in school and life.”

The event was hosted by Pre-K Our Way, a nonpartisan community-based nonprofit organized to engage communities on expanding high-quality preschool for their children. Forum attendees set the day’s agenda and participated in various discussions stemming from the forum’s central question: How do we ensure that each child in our community is prepared for kindergarten? The forum discussions focused on how to expand NJ’s existing high-quality pre-k to more 3- to 4-year-olds.

“New Jersey has a national model for preschool education with thousands of kids benefitting from quality programming that results in students being three-quarters of an academic year ahead of those who do not attend quality preschool programs,” said Brian Maher, Pre-K Our Way Leadership Group member and former Chairman and Chief Executive of Maher Terminals. “A state law passed years ago called for the expansion of preschool programs to 90 towns in addition to the 31 communities that have these programs. Through the efforts of Pre-K Our Way, we can help communities across New Jersey to bring pre-k their way and to improve education and life outcomes for their children.”

The North Jersey forum was the second in a series of three regional forums hosted by Pre-K Our Way. The initial forum was hosted on April 20-21 in Central Jersey and the last forum will be hosted in South Jersey on May 4-5. Interested participants can find more information or register for the South Jersey forum at www.prekourway.org.

Photo: Central Ocean Rotary Club President Glynis Wray attended Pre-K Our Way’s North Jersey Forum.