Brick Schools Awarded $691K Grant To Expand Preschool Program

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township School District has been awarded a grant by the New Jersey Department of Education to expand its preschool program, one of 31 districts in the state selected to receive the grant.

The Preschool Education Expansion grant for $690,965 will allow the district to expand its existing 2.5-hour preschool program for general education students. At the September Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Gerard Dalton said in awarding the grant, the state Department of Education doesn't expect an immediate, rapid expansion but rather a natural expansion that will ensure the students are receiving a solid program.

The state awarded funding in two phases over the past few months. first appropriating $20.6 million in Preschool Education Expansion Aid, to be given to school districts. Then 117 eligible districts were invited to apply and 31 applied.

School districts were selected for the competitive grants by demonstrating a need and ability to expand.

Dalton and Kristen Hanson, the district's special education coordinator, submitted an application with a plan to enhance and expand the current program, with the backing of the school board. .

"The opportunity to expand our preschool program with additional funding from the state is a benefit for our current students, future students and their families," said Wohlrab, the president of the Board of Education. "We will be able to serve more students, earlier in their educational experience to support their growth as learners. I commend the hard work of our staff to pursue this funding."

The PEEA Aid will allow the district to provide full-day preschool for 3- and 4-year old children who live in Brick Township. The grant also includes student transportation.

"“This is a wonderful opportunity for the students and families of Brick Township," Hanson said. "The students will be able to receive a full-day preschool program at no cost. The students will be educated by certificated teachers, in a high quality preschool program. A new playground was also written into the grant to benefit the students,” Hanson said.

Three full-day general education preschool classes will be established beginning in January 2019, the district said. By the 2019-20 school year begins, the district will have 16 full-day preschool classes. Each class will be integrated with ten general education students and five special education students, with a maximum class size of fifteen children. Current students will have the opportunity to participate in a lottery system for a full day placement and new students will be accepted as space allows.

For this year, the program will expand by adding two teachers, the district said. The following year, five additional teachers will be needed. The grant also allows for the hiring of a master teacher to provide consultation and intervention to the preschool staff. All preschool staffing salaries will be covered by the grant and future funding will continue through the Preschool Education Aid.

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Image via Google Maps shows Warren H Wolf Elementary.