Logan Starts Full Day Preschool Program

LOGAN TWP. – The Logan Township School District will begin a four full day preschool program in October, thanks to funds from New Jersey Department of Education Preschool Education Expansion Aid (PEEA).

On Sept. 1, the Logan Township School District was notified that its application for funds was approved for an initial award of $608,916 for the 2017-2018 school year. These funds will allow Center Square School to operate four full day (6 hours and 50 minutes) preschool classes, which are taught by four fully state-certified teachers and classroom aides.

Eligible students for Logan’s free full day preschool program are those children who are residents of Logan Township and who are 4 years of age as of Oct. 1, 2017. To register a child who is 4 years old, please contact Mrs. Ena Fauntleroy at efauntleroy@logan.k12.nj.us or 856-467-5133 Ext. 600. Preschool registration information is also posted on the district’s website.

The 52 full day general education preschool children who are expected to attend this full day preschool program will be taught using the Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards. At Center Square School, the preschool classes use the High Scope Curriculum to implement these Standards.

The purpose of the Expansion Aid was to provide free access to full-day preschool for four-year old children residing in the school district in accordance with the preschool quality standards adopted by the commissioner. It was the commissioner who determined which districts would receive the Preschool Education Expansion Aid based on a district’s demonstration of its readiness to operate a preschool program consistent with the preschool quality standards.

In August 2017, school districts throughout the state were notified of this opportunity, but only districts, which were already offering a state-funded general education preschool program, were able to apply to expand their current program to serve more children and/or to offer longer hours.

Logan Township School District had to demonstrate that the district had available classroom space, that the district met all of the criteria listed in the Notification of Funding Opportunity, and that the district could begin operating the full day preschool program no later than Nov. 1.

Because of this unique opportunity to expand the district’s  present tuition-based half-day preschool program to a full day preschool program, the administrative team of Mrs. Beverly Green, principal of Center Square School, Mrs. Janine Wechter, School Business Administrator and Mrs. Patricia L. Haney, School Superintendent, worked diligently throughout the month of August planning, budgeting and creating partnerships in a narrow timeframe to produce a high quality grant application that met all of the criteria points as described in the Notification of Funding Opportunity.

The Logan Township Board of Education approved the PEEA application at its Regular Session held on Aug. 23 and the district received a letter from the Division of Early Childhood Education and Family Engagement on Sept. 1 congratulating the district for its success in applying for these funds.

All of the current research points to the fact that preschool classes in New Jersey public schools supports educational achievement; encourages a child’s future health, supports working parents and promotes successful lives. Three studies by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) found that children who attended a state-funded preschool showed significant progress in language, literacy, math and science and were substantially less likely to repeat grades.

The Administration appreciates the enthusiastic response from the parents and guardians in the community as the district transitions to a full day program.

Additional information on the PEEA can be found by visiting the NJDOE website at: http://www.nj.gov/education/ece/peea