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ACNJ board member Reggie Lewis to help implement state’s new higher education plan

Posted on March 27, 2019


Pictured from left to right: Donald A. Borden, President of Camden County College; Laura Overdeck, Founder of the Overdeck Family Foundation; Reginald Lewis Executive Director of NCLC; and Harvey Kesselman, President of Stockton University.

Executive Director of the Newark City of Learning Collaborative (NCLC) and ACNJ board member Reggie Lewis was named co-chair of one of five working groups to help the state implement its new higher education plan. Reggie will co-chair the working group on Student Success along with Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Secretary of Higher Education Zakiya Smith Ellis unveiled the expansive statewide higher education plan at Rutgers University-Newark on March 26th. Known as “Where Opportunity Meets Innovation: A Student-Centered Vision for New Jersey Higher Education,” the plan will ensure every student will have the opportunity to obtain a high quality education that prepares them for life after college.

“I am truly honored to be part of such a historic moment for New Jersey. It has always been our firm belief at NCLC that every student should have the adequate preparation, information, and resources needed to succeed in college or another post-high school option. I am excited to bring the expertise of NCLC and its partners to this important statewide initiative,” said Reggie.

The other four working groups are focused on (1) Creating On-ramps to College, (2) Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments, (3) Research, Innovation, and Talent, and (4) Making College Affordable, which will be co-chaired by Rutgers University-Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor.

For more information on the statewide higher education plan, click here.

New Jersey FY2020 Budget Highlights that Impact Children and Families

Posted on March 5, 2019

In his second state budget address today, Governor Murphy expanded on his vision for a “stronger and fairer” New Jersey by increasing supports to both children and families and the growing middle class, including a big expansion in preschool funding. This is money well spent — increasing young children’s readiness skills for kindergarten and beyond!

Highlights of some of the proposed investments outlined in the Governor’s speech:

  • A $68 million increase to maintain and expand access to preschool. These additional dollars will allow more 3- and 4-year-olds from low-income families to benefit from our state’s nationally recognized model of high quality preschool. 
     
  • A $206 million increase in K-12 school funding to put New Jersey on a path to full school funding;
     
  • A $15 million increase in child care funding that will improve the child care subsidy system program payment rates, create new incentives to expand infant care and prioritize quality care and services;
     
  • $2 million toward the State’s outreach strategy for the 2020 Census;
     
  • $30 million to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) as well as the continuation of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to help low-income working families.

The budget process is just beginning and details regarding the proposed budget increases are still unknown. ACNJ will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available. These proposals represent a big step forward for New Jersey’s children and families.

NJ Lead Levels on the Rise, with Newark Leading

Posted on March 1, 2019

Today, NJ.com reported that for the first time in years, the number of New Jersey kids with too much lead in their blood is up, with Newark showing the highest increase. In 2017, of the Newark children between six months old and 26 months old that were tested, 281 showed elevated lead levels in their blood. That’s 5.9 percent of all tested children in the city, up from 5.3 percent in 2016. It’s Newark’s first increase in the city’s childhood lead cases since 2013.

Newark received wide media attention recently due to the presence of lead in their water infrastructure. However, ACNJ policy counsel Peter Chen emphasized that lead is also found in old homes throughout the city. It’s even in the soil of Newark due to the heavy use of leaded gasoline in motor vehicles decades ago.

“Lead is baked into the infrastructure of the city,” Chen said. “Until we get the lead out, we’re going to continue to see kids exposed to lead year after year.”

Earlier this year, Chen first highlighted Newark’s increase in elevated blood lead levels among the city’s children. Read his blog here.

ZERO TO THREE Releases State of Babies Yearbook

Posted on February 26, 2019

New Jersey Showing Positive Progress for Children,
Still has Room to Grow Compared to Rest of Nation

New Jersey ranks among the top half of all states for infant and toddler well-being, according to a national report released today by the early childhood development nonprofit ZERO TO THREE and children’s research organization Child Trends. 

The State of Babies Yearbook: 2019 is a first-of-its-kind resource that provides a national snapshot and comparisons across states of how our youngest children are faring. The Yearbook compiles nearly 60 indicators—specifically for children ages 0 to 3—to measure progress across three policy areas: Good Health, Strong Families and Positive Early Learning Experiences. Read more.

Download State of Babies Yearbook: 2019
Download New Jersey Rankings Fact Sheet

Learn more about ACNJ’s birth-to-three advocacy efforts.

See Us In The News

Feb. 27, 2019 The State Of New Jersey’s Babies is Strong But Lagging in Important Areas | NJSpotlight

Feb. 27, 2019 Report Show Jersey Making Progress For Young Child Welfare | NJ 101.5