The Alliance for Early Success is a 50-state resource for early-childhood advocates as they pursue the big, sustained impact that will ensure every child in every state, birth through age eight, has an equal chance to grow, learn, and succeed.
While the successful bills mark a push toward universal pre-k and full-day kindergarten, advocates insist more work lies ahead to ensure eligible pre-k students get the chance to participate in the state’s Abbott Preschool program.
Inspired by the Alliance’s “Alabama Experience” for grantees in 2024, New Jersey advocates brought members of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus on a similar pilgrimage to Alabama, in order to deepen relationships and advance equity-centered policy.
Federal and state child tax credits have historically received bipartisan support. These tax credits for families with children under age 17 provide financial relief for low-income families and their children and support economic mobility. New Jersey, Vermont, and RI have recently chosen to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to enact state-level child tax credits.
With the passage and signing of S690 in 2021, New Jersey universal home visiting became a reality. The legislation establishes a statewide newborn home visitation program in the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, making the state the second in the nation with this level of home visitation.
Cecilia Zalkind, President & CEO of Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), announces that their state is increasing funding for child care subsidies by $54 million this year — and she shines the spotlight on her team’s effective campaign about the need to increase subsidies to help child care programs meet the new minimum wage for staff salaries.
A site visit to Abbott Preschool in New Jersey provided advocates from across country the opportunity to hear the inspiring story of how they have transformed their early learning programs – from birth through 3rd grade – over the past 20 years, following the implementation of a court order requiring expansion of high quality preschool programs to address inequities in their education system and how that first step led to the development of the state’s broader early learning system.
With the New Jersey’s election of a new governor less than a year ago, Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) saw this leadership change as an opportunity to expand and improve programs for young children and their families.
