West Orange Will Start ‘No-Cost Preschool’ Before October: Officials

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Nearly 150 young learners in West Orange are expected to begin “no-cost” preschool classes before October thanks to a wave of state funding, officials say.

On Thursday, the governor’s office announced that the state is awarding more than $26 million in Preschool Expansion Aid for 2022-2023 to 27 public school districts in New Jersey. West Orange will get $1,894,659 in funds. Read More: $1.9M In State Aid Will Power Preschool Program In West Orange

Assemblyman John McKeon (D-Essex, Morris) was among those who cheered the news that West Orange was getting preschool funding.

“This is life changing for West Orange families and is another step closer to meeting our commitment to provide universal Pre-K for all New Jersey,” McKeon said. “Early childhood education will ensure our youngest residents have the foundation for bright academic future.”

According to the West Orange Public School District website, administrators applied for Preschool Expansion Aid in August 2022 with the goal of "providing preschool programming for 90 percent of our 3 and 4-year-old general education population, at no cost to parents, within the next five years."

The expansion plan is independent of the district's current Preschool Disabilities program at the Betty Maddelena Early Learning Center, located at both Northfield Avenue and Washington School.

On Thursday, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Eveny de Mendez gave parents and guardians in West Orange an update about the district’s plans for the funds.

According to de Mendez, preschool classes for 144 students (3 and 4-years-old) are scheduled to commence on Sept. 28 at the following locations:

• 4 District Preschool Classes housed at West Orange Community House
• 2 Private Provider Preschool Classes at West Orange Community House
• 3 Head Start Preschool Classes at MCDC Montclair
• 2 Preschool Inclusion Classes at BMELC

De Mendez wrote:

“We are grateful to our Board, Preschool Expansion Committee and each of the members of our school community who have contributed their time, knowledge, commitment and support to secure the district's goal of providing full time, high quality, early childhood education to all of its 3 and 4-year-old residents at no cost to parents over the next five years. The district will move expeditiously over the next few weeks to effectively implement each of the preschool components that have been carefully planned for throughout the application process. Direct communication will be made with each of our preschool families, district departments and private providers over the next few days to implement next steps and progress updates will be provided to the West Orange School Community on our Preschool Website.”

A special board of education meeting has been scheduled virtually for Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. to approve the preschool program, private provider contracts and preschool staff, de Mendez noted.

“We are excited beyond measure at the life changing impact that two consecutive years of early childhood education will afford the youngest students of our school community,” she concluded.

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