What’s New?

Calling all advocates!

Posted on July 31, 2017

It is an important time for children in New Jersey. This November we will be deciding on our next governor, who will set the agenda for the next four years. Candidates need to know NOW that we stand for children.

This election is taking place against the backdrop of turmoil in Washington. Critical federal programs for children are at risk. NJ is one of two states that will elect a new governor this year. What happens here will have impact on federal policy, too.

Your advocacy is more important than ever.  Join us  and learn what you can do to advocate for kids in this election.

What you can look forward to:

  • Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor have been invited to share their agenda for kids.
  • Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus, which advocates to make kids a priority on the federal level, will discuss the landscape in D.C. and the potential impact on NJ.
  • A panel of political insiders will talk about the challenges and strategies in elevating children’s issues in the election and beyond.
  • You will receive ACNJ’s voter’s guide and other information to help you advocate.

9:00 a.m.
Registration

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Program

Fund to feed kids becomes law (Nourishing Young Minds Initiative Fund)

Posted on July 21, 2017

Today, Governor Chris Christie sign into law a fund that will dedicate state dollars to feed children facing hunger.

Under the bill, S-2819/A-4363 (Sweeney, Ruiz, Lesniak/Taliaferro, Andrzejczak, Lampitt, Mosquera, Holley, Quijano), the Nourishing Young Minds Initiative Fund would defray the costs of effectively implementing the federal school breakfast and summer meals programs in high-poverty communities, helping to increase the number of low-income children receiving these meals. Because towns are reimbursed based on the number of meals served, this would bring more federal dollars into New Jersey communities to feed hungry kids.

Check out the video clip from event introducing this legislation.

New Jersey Kids Count 2017 County Rankings out!

Posted on July 10, 2017

Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) released its annual Kids Count county profiles and pocket guide today, comparing the state’s 21 counties across 12 measures of child well-being and providing 5-year child trend data at the state and county level. This year, instead of giving an overall rank for each county, ACNJ took a different approach, comparing counties across four domains: child and family economics, child health, safety and well-being, and education. Read more…

Download Pocket Guide

View county profiles

Download 2017 individual county news releases.

NJ Senate Unanimously Supports Chronic Absenteeism Bill!

Posted on June 27, 2017

On June 26th, all 40 of New Jersey’s State Senators voted unanimously in favor of S447, the Chronic Absenteeism Bill!

With 147,000 or 10.5 percent of the state’s PreK-12th graders identified as chronically absent in the 2015-2016 school year, this bill is a strong first-step in improving school attendance. The bill ensures that every district is using the same definition when measuring student absences and requires that all School Report Cards include data on chronic absenteeism so that the public can be apprised of whether schools in their communities are struggling with too many students missing too much school.

Lastly, the bill moves from just reporting data to ensuring action by requiring schools with 10 percent or more of their students identified as being chronically absent to develop a chronic absenteeism plan, which must include parent input. S447 recognizes, in a non-punitive way, that even schools that are struggling with high absentee rates can make a difference in turning the tide on those rates with a clear plan and a concerted effort.

Thanks to Senator Diane Allen’s (R-7) leadership in sponsoring the bill and shepherding it through the Senate, it is now headed to the Assembly Education Committee for hearings.

Learn more on chronic absenteeism in New Jersey.

Learn more about U.S. chronic absenteeism.