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Why Wraparound Care is Essential

Posted on September 2, 2025

Co-Authored by:
Kyla Ginsberg
Student Intern

Cindy Shields
Early Childhood Senior Policy Analyst

Winifred Smith-Jenkins
Director of Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy

For more information on this topic, contact Cindy at cshields@acnj.org or Winifred at wsmith-jenkins@acnj.org.

For many families, the hours before and after school are just as important as the school day itself, making wraparound care essential for parents who work or go to school. Wraparound care, also called out-of-school time (OST), includes before-school programs, after-school programs, and summer care. It “wraps around” the traditional school day, providing children with safe, structured, and enriching activities while giving parents the support they need to work full-time. Far from being an add-on, wraparound care is a vital service that sustains families and strengthens local economies.

How the Need for Wraparound Care Emerged

Before the Industrial Revolution, child care in the United States was largely informal. As industrialization expanded in the late 1800s, families increasingly relied on two incomes, and stricter child labor laws limited children’s participation in the workforce. This shift created a pressing need for care outside the home. In cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, “infant” or “day” nurseries emerged, providing safe spaces for children while their parents worked. By the 1970s-80s, concerns about unsupervised "latchkey kids" led to increased investment in structured after-school programming as more women joined the workforce.

A Defining Moment for Child Care Policy in New Jersey

In New Jersey, the 1980s marked a turning point in child care policy. Counties created Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies, and local subsidy programs soon followed. (Child Care Association of NJ) In 1983, the state passed the Child Care Center Licensing Act and the Family Day Care Registration Act, establishing regulatory standards for both center-based and home-based care. (ACNJ) The first voucher-based subsidy program was launched in 1984 by North Jersey 4Cs, enabling families in Passaic County to access affordable wraparound care. (North Jersey 4Cs)

Why Wraparound Care Matters Today

Wraparound care plays a critical role for both families and the broader economy:

  • Safety and Supervision: Provides children with a safe, nurturing environment beyond the school day.
  • Workforce Stability: Enables parents to maintain steady employment without compromising their children’s well-being.
  • Sustaining Child Care Centers: Revenue from wraparound care helps centers remain financially viable, ensuring that early learning programs continue to serve communities.
  • Economic Impact: Reliable child care, including wraparound services, is a cornerstone of workforce participation and economic growth.

Benefits for Children

High-quality wraparound programs go beyond supervision. They enrich children’s lives.

  • Academic Support: Many programs provide homework help, tutoring, and enrichment opportunities.
  • Social-Emotional Growth: Activities build relationships, teamwork, and resilience.
  • Health and Wellness: Programs often include outdoor play, clubs, and nutritious meals or snacks.
  • Closing Opportunity Gaps: For children from under-resourced families, before- and after-school programs provide access to experiences such as arts, sports,  and STEM that they might otherwise miss.

The Role of Child Care Subsidies in New Jersey

In New Jersey, the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), overseen by the Department of Human Services’ Division of Family Development, has been a critical lifeline for families. However, as of August 1, 2025, the program has stopped accepting new applications due to budget shortfalls. Families already enrolled will also face higher co-pays at their next redetermination.

Without robust funding for subsidies, the impacts may be far-reaching:

  • Parents may be forced to leave the workforce or reduce hours due to unaffordable child care costs.
  • Child care centers may limit services or close programs, reducing available options.
  • The broader New Jersey economy may experience disruptions as workforce participation declines.

Moving Forward

Wraparound care is not a luxury. It is a foundational service for families, children, and the economy. Ensuring that it remains accessible and affordable is a shared responsibility.

Questions for Policymakers:

  • How will you ensure equitable access to high-quality wraparound care for New Jersey families now and in the future?
  • What steps will you take to support and fairly compensate the child care workforce?
  • How will you address budget challenges to protect the subsidies that keep families working and children thriving?
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New law expands parents’ rights to advance notice before IEP meetings

Posted on August 15, 2025

Nina-web

Nina Peckman, Esq.
ACNJ Staff Attorney

 

Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, a new special education law will expand a parent’s right to receive advance notice regarding certain information before an annual IEP meeting takes place.

Under federal and state special education laws, parents have what are known as “participation rights”. The purpose of these laws is to ensure that parents have a meaningful opportunity to provide their input regarding their child’s education program. These rights also help parents provide well-informed consent when their written consent is required by law. Some of the existing laws that support these participation rights require school districts:

  • Explain the child study team evaluation reports and the proposed IEP
  • Share the reasons for child study team decisions
  • Provide advanced notice for school meetings and prior to implementing school decisions

The new law signed by Governor Murphy on July 22, 2025 requires additional notices and information to be provided to parents before an annual IEP meeting. (The annual IEP meeting is the meeting that must occur yearly around the anniversary date of the initial agreed upon IEP.) This law will help parents better understand their children’s progress and proposed IEPs and to be more effective at offering input and asking important questions at IEP meetings.

Per the law, at least 2 business days before the annual review, parents must receive a written statement by regular mail--and by email if the child study team has the parent’s email address. The statement should include:

  • What will be discussed at the meeting
  • The student’s current levels of academic and functional performance
  • A list of names of any required school staff IEP members who will not attend and a statement of their observations and recommendations for the program and services they are responsible for. Parents have the right to reschedule the meeting for a date when all IEP members can attend.
  • The parent’s right to provide input and feedback at the IEP meeting

The law also requires the New Jersey Department of Education to establish an IEP Working Group “to provide recommendations to the Department regarding methods to improve the development and implementation of the IEPs and to ensure parent involvement in the process. “ The committee will be made up of administrators, teachers, parents and advocates and child study team members.

For more information See P.L. 2025 c.107: https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/S4000/3982_R1.PDF

For further information, feel free to contact Nina Peckman, ACNJ Staff Attorney at npeckman@acnj.org.

Join us for September’s Lunch and Learn on Midwifery and Doulas

Posted on August 14, 2025

Sep 17 Lunch N Learn

Join us for a Lunch and Learn session that explores how midwives and doulas provide critical support to families before, during, and after childbirth.

Wednesday, September 17 @ 12PM Via Zoom

We’ll discuss the benefits for maternal and infant health, how these services can improve birth outcomes, and the barriers families face in accessing them. We’ll also look at policy and community efforts that expand access, particularly for underserved populations. Stay tuned for details about the speakers.