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Did you know that New Jersey preschoolers are being expelled from public schools against the law?

Posted on November 14, 2023

jake-moore

By Jake Moore
Policy Associate

For more information on this topic contact Jake at jmoore@acnj.org

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New Jersey passed legislation in 2016 to make expulsions and suspensions of preschoolers in publicly funded classrooms against the law, except in certain circumstances. However, both remain major issues facing our youngest children. 

Beginning in 2005, studies have shown incredibly high rates of temporary or permanent removal of preschoolers from classrooms and care centers. Of great concern, a 2019 survey of New Jersey teachers concluded that preschoolers were expelled at 8 times the rate as K-12 students, many of which could be in violation of law. 

Many New Jersey parents also attest to being “backdoor expelled” or “soft expelled” from programs, meaning they were either asked to transfer schools or told their child was not the right fit for the program. 

Why is this so alarming?

Young children learn through relationships, which are disrupted by exclusionary discipline. More importantly, these suspensions or expulsions often disconnect children who are most in need of supportive connections. Safe, stable, and nurturing relationships set children up for success, and by moving away from exclusionary discipline, we can reduce the chances of negative life-long outcomes.

Many New Jersey parents value relationship building, and see early classroom and care settings as places that “help socialize [children] and provide love and safety.” Exclusion undermines these highly valued resources. Beyond the formative impact preschool has on children, parents also recognize that without it, they would be unable to work, placing additional stressors on their child's development. 

Why is this happening: Events or Environments?

In many ways, children are expelled not solely for a particular incident, but because of the conditions surrounding them. For example, when teachers are burnt out, unsupported, and stressed, students face higher chances of suspension. Higher rates of exclusionary discipline are also associated with higher teacher workloads and fewer student supports. Some have shown that stronger teacher-parent relationships can alleviate these risks of exclusion, especially for black and brown children, which supports that it's not necessarily events, but the relationships and resources available that drive exclusion. 

Within the preschool and early education context, the connection between teacher well-being, and student discipline is especially startling. Reports time and time again allude to preschool and other early childhood educators facing immense stress and poor mental health, which have only worsened since the pandemic. As a result, suspensions of preschoolers during the pandemic were nearly twice pre-pandemic levels. If we want to support children, we must support the workers tasked with making these disciplinary decisions. 

Relationships and Resources Matter

To combat these issues, districts and teachers need funding and support to follow the law, which did not mandate any in its implementation. The American Academy of Pediatrics has noted the need for greater access to developmental-behavioral pediatricians, trainings, screenings, and pediatric care in pursuit of fewer expulsions. As New Jersey continues to expand preschool, we must continue to be bold in supporting parents, educators, and providers to overcome these challenges.  

 

Watch a special presentation from
Dr. Walter Gilliam from Yale University Child Study Center on his research on the impact of the pandemic on young children, their families, and child care providers which includes alarming data on preschool expulsions.

Dr. Gilliam is an Elizabeth Mears and House Jameson professor of child psychiatry and psychology at the Yale Child Study Center and Director of Yale's Edward Ziegler Center in Child Development and Social Policy as well as a research fellow of the National Institute for Early Education Research

Dr. Gilliam was co-recipient of the prestigious 2008 Grawemeyer Award in Education for the coauthored book, A Vision for Universal Preschool Education. His research and scholarly writing address early childhood care and education early childhood mental health school readiness developmental assessment of young children and race and gender disparities in early childhood.

He is most known for his work on preschool expulsion and suspension, early childhood mental health consultation and race and gender bias in early childhood settings. His work frequently has been covered in major national and international news outlets and he actively provides consultation to state and federal decision makers.

He is a former senior advisor to the National Association of the Education of Young Children, past president of Child Care Aware of America, member of the board of directors for ZERO to THREE, The Irving Harris Foundation, First Children's Finance and All Our Kin.

Read the latest on state funded preschool.

Senior Policy Analyst Cynthia Rice Retiring at the End of the Year

Posted on November 14, 2023

Cynthia Rice, senior policy analyst for Advocates for Children of New Jersey, will retire at the end of 2023 after 31 years of service. Known to most as “Cyndie,” her expertise and decades-long experience in policymaking, keen sense of political strategy, and strong relationship-building have helped advance many of ACNJ’s wins for children. Whether meeting with lawmakers in Trenton or at the nation’s Capitol, her sole focus has always been improving the lives of children.

Send a message of congrats to Cyndie on ACNJ's Kudoboard.

Key Accomplishments:

  • Leading the effort year after year, to increase funding for preschool expansion and provide direct advocacy support to child care providers, parents, and school administrators to expand pre-K in their districts. Cyndie was instrumental in ACNJ’s effort to bring high-quality public preschool to thousands of 3- and 4-year-olds, beginning with the state Supreme Court landmark decision, “Abbott v Burke,” which mandated public preschool in 31 of the state’s poorest districts. Since its implementation in 1999, the number of districts with state-funded full-day, quality preschool has grown to 277, reaching more than 50,000 students every year.
  • Her work on pre-K to 3rd grade alignment underscoring the need to maximize and sustain the gains from preschool to ensure that children are reading on grade level by 3rd grade--a key factor in future school success.
  • Ushering key legislation that has helped thousands of New Jerseyans, including the state’s College Credit Transfer Law known as the “Lampitt Law,” which made transferring credits from a community college to a four-year institution more seamless.
  • Bringing attention to the long-term implications of student absences, leading to the state’s 2018 chronic absenteeism law.
  • Leading numerous legislative and congressional visits that included both child care providers and parents to amplify their critical needs. These visits have deepened relationships with New Jersey’s congressional delegation and key legislators to help develop leadership for child care issues. Cyndie’s dedication to the child care industry was never more evident than during the pandemic. Recognizing the fragile state of the industry due to mandated closures, staff shortages and low enrollment, Cyndie led advocacy efforts to secure and strategically utilize the American Rescue Plan Funds, which served as a critical lifeline to New Jersey’s child care system, earning her the NJAEYC Advocate of the Year Award in 2021.

Prior to joining ACNJ, Cyndie worked as an assistant district attorney in the Bronx focused on child abuse and domestic violence cases. There, she saw firsthand how poverty affects children's learning and their opportunities for future success. She distinctly remembers a case that involved a 6-year-old who needed to identify a suspect in a police lineup, but did not know her numbers. This was just one of many experiences that had a profound impact and she eventually pivoted her focus to education policy, with a strong conviction that poverty should not be the deciding factor of a child's future.

Cyndie's skills in building relationships with policymakers, practitioners, and other advocates, have contributed in large part to ACNJ’s advocacy success. She has received numerous awards in recognition of her service and dedication to children - most recently, YWCA Northern New Jersey’s Walking The Talk Award and the NJAEYC 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. Cyndie’s tenacity and humor will be deeply missed and we wish her the very best in retirement.

Cynthia Rice, Senior Policy Analyst
Cynthia Rice, Senior Policy Analyst

ACT NOW: Families Need Child Care and Child Care Programs Need Help from Washington!

Posted on November 13, 2023

Tell Congress to prioritize children and families, ensuring child care funding as they make decisions on federal appropriations this week.

The federal COVID funding for child care that expired this September, kept the child care industry in business throughout the pandemic, allowing programs to continue to provide critical learning opportunities for our youngest children while enabling their parents to go to work.

Earlier this month, the Biden-Harris Administration requested $16 billion from Congress in supplemental funding for child care. This funding would keep many child care programs from closing down, including programs in New Jersey.

New Jersey’s Members of Congress have a lot on their plates as they take action on our federal appropriations, so we must ensure that child care remains a top priority for Congress. Congress has until this Friday to take action on federal appropriations to prevent a government shutdown. So we need you to ACT NOW. 

Meet our Panelists on Moving Forward with Social Media: Balancing the Benefits Against the Risks

Posted on November 9, 2023

Join us at ACNJ's 8th Annual Breakfast celebration featuring a panel discussion on how we can embrace social media while balancing the benefits against the risks.

Social media is an integral part of today's world. People are able to stay connected, businesses can reach more customers and organizations can promote their cause. For many, it has become a primary source to stay informed on current events and trends. Social media has a positive impact, but there are some downfalls, especially for children.

Join us as we listen to a discussion on the impact social networks have on children and youth, how to maximize the benefits, and how to minimize the risks.

Purchase Tickets

Moderator: Rosy Arroyo
Administrator, Camden County Youth Services Commission
Member, ACNJ Board of Trustees

Rosy Arroyo is the Camden County Youth Services Commission Administrator and Community Engagement Reentry Coordinator. She focuses on reducing youth involvement in the justice system by coordinating system partners and community resources to create successful pathways for opportunities. Ms. Arroyo has also served as Executive Manager on Camden County’s Community Planning and Advocacy Council. She has led front end systems diversion efforts by working with law enforcement to support positive and increased engagement with the community. In order to provide a holistic approach to the work, Ms. Arroyo developed, and successfully implemented, a Youth Justice Family Engagement program to assist families with navigating the justice system. She holds a B.A. in Political Science/Economics from Rutgers University and a M.S. in Public Policy from Drexel University. She is currently working on the development of a Restorative and Transformative Justice HUB in the city of Camden, and also serves as a Member on the ACNJ Board of Trustees.

Jeffrey Lane, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Communication
Rutgers University, New Brunswick

Dr. Jeffrey Lane is an Associate Professor of Communication at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Princeton University. Dr. Lane studies communication and technology as it relates to urban life, youth culture, criminal justice, and social inequalities. He is the author of The Digital Street (Oxford University Press, 2019), a neighborhood study of social media use in Harlem (NYC). Dr. Lane is the co-founder and co-chair of the Rutgers Digital Ethnography Working Group (DEWG), a Faculty Affiliate of the New Jersey Center on Gun Violence Research at Rutgers University, and a Research Affiliate of the Center on Digital Culture and Society at Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as, American Behavioral Scientist, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication and New Media & Society, and written about in popular news outlets like The Atlantic, New York Times and New York Magazine.

Ravjit (Ruby) Sekhon MSW, LCSW
Program Manager, School and Community Based Programs
Director, Middlesex County NJ4S HUB, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care

Ruby Sekhon works at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care and is overseeing the new state initiative from the Department of Children of Families (DCF)--the New Jersey Statewide Support Services (NJ4S) program for Middlesex County. This program is designed to enhance students’ access to prevention and mental health services through a hub-and-spokes model of care. A major focus is on creating educational workshops and presentations to schools and communities on various topics to support the emotional, behavioral and mental health needs of students. Ms. Sekhon has over 15 years of experience in the field of social services working with diverse populations in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, hospitals, schools, nonprofits and case/care management programs. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and with a minor in Global Studies at Kean University and holds a Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University, with a specialization in Gerontology. She is a licensed level clinical social worker in New Jersey and holds a certification in Clinical Supervision that allows her to provide advanced-level supervision to professionals obtaining clinical hours for their mental health and substance use credentialing.

Youth Panelist: Ziany Lee Gunther
Web Design Intern, Hopeworks, Camden

 

Ziany Lee Gunther is a web design intern at Hopeworks, a non-profit organization that provides training and opportunities for youth in Camden, New Jersey. She is skilled in HTML, CSS, WordPress, Figma and Adobe Photoshop. She is also a chairperson and recruiter at Community Planning & Advocacy Council (CPAC), where they perform street outreach and organize youth focus groups to improve community resources. Ms. Gunther graduated from Creative Arts High School in 2022 with a diploma in fashion design. She is also ABA banking certified and has experience in customer service. She has a strong passion for helping others and making a positive impact in their communities.

 

Did you know that every dollar invested in Pre-K programs generates massive returns?

Posted on November 8, 2023

jake-moore

By Jake Moore

Policy Associate

For more information on this topic contact Jake at jmoore@acnj.org

Did You Know Blog Banner

Many studies suggest that for every dollar invested in pre-K, communities reap a $4 return. That’s a 400% return on investment! Even annual returns from investing in early education programs outperform the world’s largest stock exchanges.

What Benefits Are We Talking About?

It goes without saying that children enrolled in preschool thrive later in life. Studies following former preschoolers in New Jersey demonstrate greater academic achievement all the way through to high school. More importantly, long-term studies conducted in states like Georgia, Massachusetts, and Michigan consistently show children enrolled in high-quality pre-K programs were more likely to graduate high school, and attend college.

Furthermore, greater academic achievement is correlated with greater earnings and prosperity. Each of these studies identified connections between preschool enrollment and full-time employment as adults. Investment in high-quality preschool can even benefit future generations, with some studies showing that children of former preschoolers achieve more academically and financially.

Although we often focus on the individual benefits of a preschool education, the communal and societal benefits should not be overlooked.

Every $ invested in Pre-K Final

Beyond Individual Benefits

Greater preschool enrollment is shown to reduce socioeconomic and racial disparities in educational outcomes. Admittedly, greater preschool investment can’t address everything that drives these gaps, but it is an indispensable support. The collective benefits of addressing racial disparities in education alone are staggeringly large, and greater pre-K access plays a role in the solution.

Communally, greater pre-K enrollment is connected to lower crime rates. One reason for this is that students with earlier support are better equipped for school and, therefore, less likely to be suspended. This, in turn, is associated with lower subsequent crime. In all, some estimate that access to high-quality pre-K would save 70 billion dollars in crime and child abuse costs annually.

Quite importantly, greater access to early educational opportunities allows the workforce, most notably working mothers, to prosper. Studies, both nationally and internationally, recognize that investments in pre-K allow mothers to return to the workforce as preschool often includes or acts as child care. The benefits are especially pronounced for women living in poverty, less educated women, and women of color. With a larger and more supported workforce, businesses and our economy can thrive.

What Now?

While NJ has had a long-standing commitment to high-quality preschool, there is still plenty of work yet to be done. As of now, New Jersey alone spends over three times as much per child over age 5 than they do for preschool-aged children. Even with federal dollars, a New Jersey 4-year-old only receives 37 cents for every dollar directed to a 5-year-old.

This isn’t just a problem facing parents, but also communities, businesses, and everyone who stands to benefit from a healthier, safer, more educated, and prosperous New Jersey.

According to the most recent enrollment data, over 66,000 children were enrolled in a pre-K program. However, nearly 200,000 are eligible. That means barely 1 in 3 preschoolers are being served.

In the future, New Jersey's commitment to a high-quality and equitable preschool experience for all 3- and 4-year-olds must ensure a level of investment and oversight that makes preschool accessible to all young children. If we do, all New Jersey residents stand to benefit.

Read our latest updates on preschool.