Abbott preschool program a success, but other districts will have to wait before implementing it

A report released last week demonstrates the success of the state's full-day preschool program used among former Abbott districts, but state plans to expand that program to more children remain indefinitely on hold.

The New Jersey Department of Education published a third-party study July 13 that revealed the success of children who participated in the preschool program. William Paterson University researchers tracked children from preschool age to second grade, examining their performances in oral development, reading and mathematics for the APPLES Blossom: Abbott Preschool Program Longitudinal Effects Study.

The result was consistently better scores by those children who participated versus their peers, who may have received private preschool care or none at all.

While the department celebrates the report as one more research-based study supporting the importance of quality preschool, those districts that were expecting to enter into the program this year remain without the early education advantage.

"I'm all for early intervention and early education," said Vicki Pede, superintendent with the Lopatcong Township school district. "It's just a shame we can't get it started."

School officials in Alpha, Greenwich, Lopatcong and Pohatcong townships were required to submit a 5-year plan to the state indicating how they would begin the gradual implementation of full-day preschool in their districts.

Officials had hoped to begin enrolling low-income children for the program for the 2009-10 school year, but with no state funds available for reimbursement, the districts were forced the shelve the plan until further notice.

"We're definitely looking forward to it and we're disappointed that the money isn't there," said Alpha Chief School Administrator Donna Medea. "We've been encouraged to use part of our stimulus funds to start the program, but (Alpha is) not getting enough to fund a full program."

NJDOE spokesman Rich Vespucci said there is no doubt the preschool program will grow to reach all New Jersey youngsters. Research continues to show the value of such early education, he said, but right now state money remains scarce.

"It's when the time comes, not if the time comes," Vespucci said. "From our point of view, the worth and value of a quality preschool is not debatable."

The full-day program began in 1999, as a result of the Abbott v. Burke case establishing basic early education standards for children in New Jersey's poorest districts. According to the NJDOE, the enrollment in the program now serves 80 percent of all eligible students in the 31 former Abbott districts.

Private schools do not need to adhere to the same rigorous curriculum, certifications and other standards that come with the public full-day program, according to Vespucci.

Warren County Special Services was enlisted to instruct the preschool program for those in the Phillipsburg area. The classes were to be held in a spare room at the Pohatcong School.

Warren County Special Services Superintendent Regina Swierc said districts were notified in April that the state was unable to provide the money.

"It's still a project we're very interested in doing," she said. "We would love to do it, we really would. We know it was a big service to Warren County."

Vespucci said districts able to move forward with the program on their own finances are encouraged to do so, but he doesn't expect a large number to do so.

Warren County Superintendent Kevin Brennan could not be reached Friday to confirm if any Warren County districts are making that leap on their own.

Since its inception in 1999, the full-day preschool program conducted at the state's 31 former Abbott districts appears to give youngsters a jump start on academic development. The following are among the accomplishments cited in the latest third-party study on the subject:

Source: New Jersey Department of Education