The best investment of education funding is quality preschool: Better grades Better test scores Better behavior Better school success

Preschool programs help build the early foundations for school success. Early reading skills, for example, which are critical for school success, are improved when children have attended good preschool programs.

New Jersey is a national leader in providing quality preschool to low-income children. The state is now poised to build on that success with the expansion of public preschool to suburban districts through the Early Launch to Learning Initiative (ELLI). The $15 million included in Governor McGreevey’s budget proposal would provide free preschool to 4,000 low-income children. An additional 16,000 children would be served, funded by districts through a blend of other state, federal, and local dollars and possibly by parent co pays.

This is a wise investment of taxpayer dollars. Research shows that attendance in a quality preschool program reduces grade repetition and special education referrals and enhances learning productivity for students and schools.

Right now, only 1/3 of New Jersey’s four year olds can attend a quality public preschool. The 30 Abbott districts offer full day preschool programs with state funding. Another 102, the non-Abbott ECPA districts, offer half day preschool programs, also with state funding. An additional 75 districts offer half day programs for some of the children in their districts, using local and federal funding. But if a four year old lives outside these districts, and his or her parents cannot afford a preschool program, that child misses out on a crucial period of learning.

New Jersey has made great strides in providing some children with an essential early start to learning. This proposal offers an opportunity to move toward ensuring that no child is left out of this critical step that will help them succeed in school and life.

Key features of ELLI: Voluntary program, school districts compete for funding   Programs for four year olds, half or full day   High quality programs—licensed teachers, low student/teacher ratio, approved curriculum   Districts may elect to collaborate with community programs, such as YMCA or Head Start, and community services, such as libraries and recreation departments   ELLI funding covers low-income children, districts must fund typically developing children who are not low-income   An Early Childhood Advisory Council representing the community must sign off on the district’s ELLI application

A project of the Early Childhood Funders' Collaborative supporting state efforts to prepare our youngest children for a successful future.