PRE-K EXPANSION GROUP HOSTS REPRESENTATIVES FROM MORE THAN 62 COMMUNITIES IN FORUM ON PREPARING KIDS FOR KINDERGARTEN

PRE-K EXPANSION GROUP HOSTS REPRESENTATIVES FROM MORE THAN 62 COMMUNITIES IN FORUM ON PREPARING KIDS FOR KINDERGARTEN

South Jersey Forum Was One of Three in Regional Forum Series for Pre-K Our Way

Galloway, N.J. - The South Jersey Forum was one of three of a series of 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 62 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 Monday and Tuesday, May 4 and 5 at the Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club.

According to forum attendee Woodbine School District Superintendent and Principal Lynda Anderson-Towns, who serves on the Pre-K Our Way Leadership Group, “Woodbine School District educates over 90% of its community’s preschool-aged students. We continue to be amazed by the increase in our preschoolers’ language proficiency, writing skills and number recognition and awareness. Results like these show that New Jersey can’t afford to wait. Research shows that preschool is essential for 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.”

To learn more about Pre-K Our Way, please visit www.prekourway.org.

Photo: Galloway Township Preschool teacher Marie Geary attends the Pre-K Our Way South Jersey Forum last week in Galloway Township.