TRENTON – Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz was featured as a guest columnist on Sunday, January 12th, in the Star-Ledger, making the case for how New Jersey can continue building toward universal preschool and provide better support to young families by establishing a Department of Early Childhood.

“Science shows that a young child’s brain is like a sponge. It forms millions of new neural connections every minute, with 90% of its development completed by age five. This isn’t just biological; it’s a reality visible in every classroom and home, and something I witnessed during my time as a preschool teacher and again as a mother,” wrote Senator Ruiz. “When we harness this period of growth by enrolling children in high-quality early childhood programs, it pays off in dividends: It helps to reduce the achievement gap, high school graduation rates rise, college attendance increases, and future employment outcomes improve.”

Last year, Senator Ruiz introduced legislation to responsibly and equitably accelerate pre-K expansion, prioritizing communities with the greatest need and ensuring long-term sustainability. Governor Murphy and the Department of Education have made significant progress in growing the early childhood ecosystem in New Jersey, which now serves over 75,000 young children in preschool programs.

However, state programs to support infants and preschool-aged children are currently scattered across multiple agencies, often leading to confusion for families seeking assistance and frustration for providers navigating eligibility and compliance standards. Senator Ruiz argues that a more focused, centralized authority is essential to effectively drive and streamline early childhood initiatives.

“Together, we can expand universal pre-K, grow an affordable infant and toddler care system, address educational inequities, and tackle the affordability crisis by establishing a unified Department of Early Childhood – streamlining our systems, strengthening our efforts, and paving the way for transformative opportunities that will shape our children’s futures and empower families in every zip code,” wrote Senator Ruiz.

To read more from Senator Ruiz’s op-ed, CLICK HERE

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