Early Care and Education

During a child’s first years, the brain undergoes its most dramatic development. as the capacities for thinking, language, emotion and self-regulation are formed. In fact, what happens during these first critical years significantly influences a child’s chance for school success. A strong early care and education system, starting at birth and continuing into a child’s early elementary years, is the foundation to ensure that children are reading on grade level by the end of 3rd grade, a key “learning moment,” when they begin reading to learn, rather than learning to read. This early literacy is the foundation of future academic success.

Advocates for Children of New Jersey aims to strengthen the state’s early learning system by enacting stronger public policies for young children and increasing investments in programs and services that pay strong dividends over the course of a child’s life.

The following are policy areas ACNJ is focused on for building the foundation for school success:

• Birth to Three
• Child care
• Preschool
• PreK through 3rd grade education